Translator: AnubisTL
Chen Mang lowered his head to look at the tablet Xiao Ai handed him. The screen showed endless wormhole entrances opening near Qiu Mountain Star, each leading to dozens of different galaxies within the Rugged Civilization.
The scale of this conflict seemed far greater than he had anticipated.
He fell silent, his mind racing.
His plan had been disrupted. He hadn't expected his Star Arrow Shot to have such a massive impact. He had only wanted to test the arrow and secretly observe the Rugged Civilization's internal situation before taking action.
Now, it seemed he might need to move sooner than planned.
"You guys go back to the train first," he said, glancing at Biaozi and the others behind him. Everyone except Xiao Ai retreated. As a robot, Xiao Ai didn't need to fear death, and Chen Mang, equipped with the Hell Set, wasn't worried about what these people could do to him.
Theoretically speaking.
Old Pig possessed the divine race's absolute immortality, so he shouldn't need to worry either. But since Old Pig had once killed a member of the divine race, it was best to err on the side of caution. Perhaps the Rugged Civilization had a strand of his hair as well.
In the next moment—
Countless shooting stars streaked across the sky.
These were the fiery trails left by countless powerful figures flying at breakneck speed. Moments later, dozens of individuals wielding detection devices descended upon the Zhihao Weapon Shop, their gazes locking onto Chen Mang, who stood at the entrance, their eyes filled with scrutiny.
Since I've been exposed, Chen Mang thought, there's no point in pretending anymore.
He decided to cut to the chase.
Leaning on his cane outside the shop, he faced forward with unwavering composure, patiently awaiting their arrival. Xiao Ai stood beside him, one step to his right.
The shopkeeper of Zhihao Weapon Shop, overwhelmed by disbelief, had already collapsed to his knees at the entrance, his voice trembling as he murmured, "Changsheng Elder... Sixteenth Elder... Leiser Elder..."
"The entire Council of Elders from the Rugged Civilization has arrived!"
"These are figures we only see in the news!"
The Rugged Civilization currently lacked a Holy Arrow Position, with all authority vested in the Council of Elders. While these individuals might not be the most powerful warriors in the civilization, they undoubtedly held the pinnacle of political power.
Soon—
Everyone had arrived.
A total of ninety-one individuals.
Every member of the Rugged Civilization's Council of Elders had gathered here, not a single one missing.
Leading the group of Elders was an old man with silver temples, likely the Great Elder. This burly, silver-templed elder landed heavily on the ground, stared at Chen Mang for a moment, then rasped, "You're not of the Sagittarius Clan. You're Human."
"How did you manage to fire that arrow?"
"Luck."
Chen Mang replied casually. It seemed the Tier 500 Bread was even more potent than he'd imagined. It didn't just grant a random racial talent; it also ensured that talent's strength was at its absolute peak.
"Luck?" The elder's eyes narrowed slightly. "Luck alone can't explain how you, with a mere mortal body, could wield a blue-grade Tier 50 longbow and unleash the Sagittarius Shot. Will you return with us to participate in the Holy Arrow trials?"
"If you pass," the elder continued, "you will become the Holy Arrow of the Rugged Civilization, and its sole leader."
"Tch." Chen Mang chuckled, tilting his head to regard the elder. "Do you think I'm a child? Why not just admit you want to kidnap me for research? If I refuse, will you resort to force?"
"No."
The elder shook his head. "I'm serious."
"..."
Chen Mang stared at the elder for a moment, observing his sincere expression. Gradually, his own expression turned strange. "You know I'm from the Human Clan, yet you still want me to participate in your Holy Arrow trials and become the leader of your Rugged Civilization?"
"Can a civilization's leader even be someone from another civilization?"
"Why not?" the elder replied solemnly. "Regardless of your current Civilization Level—even if you're from a God-Tier Civilization—I believe the allure of leading a 7th Tier Civilization would still be considerable."
"Better to be the head of a chicken than the tail of a phoenix."
"Everyone understands that principle."
Chen Mang nodded slightly and murmured, "Forgive my bluntness, but isn't it better for you if the Holy Arrow never reappears? After all, power currently rests entirely in the hands of you Elders. Once the Holy Arrow returns, authority will once again be concentrated in its hands."
"Perhaps the Rugged Civilization anticipates the Holy Arrow's return, but you Elders surely don't wish for its reappearance, do you?"
The words hung in the air.
The dozens of Elders exchanged glances, their mutual helplessness evident. The Great Elder, at their head, sighed deeply. "It's only natural for you humans to think this way."
"But within the Sagittarius Clan, it is inherently right for power to belong to the Holy Arrow."
"We all yearn for the Holy Arrow's emergence and pledge our loyalty to him."
"Even if he is not of the Sagittarius Clan."
"What I can tell you is that the Holy Arrow holds extraordinary significance for our clan. He can directly enhance the strength of our entire civilization. The Sagittarius Clan is a unique race; we require a 'central pillar' whom all can trust in order to—"
The Great Elder hesitated before continuing, "—to unleash that ultimate strike."
"The Rugged Civilization spans thirty-seven galaxies, countless planets, and an immeasurable population. Yet only one individual can command the complete trust of all these people: the Holy Arrow, chosen through rigorous trials and passed down through generations of the Sagittarius Clan. No one else can achieve such universal trust."
"Not even any of us Elders."
"..."
Chen Mang remained silent. Though the Great Elder had phrased his words delicately, Chen Mang understood perfectly. After a long pause, he murmured, "Let's go take a look first."
"Very well."
The Great Elder and the others immediately beamed with excitement.
Three hours later, after multiple wormhole transitions, Chen Mang followed the Great Elder and his group to a planet within the galaxy. This planet served as the testing ground for the Holy Arrow trials, though it hadn't been used in a very long time.
No one had met the minimum requirements to participate in the trials for ages.
The minimum requirement was to draw the bow and unleash the Star Arrow Shot before awakening as a Chosen One!
"Please proceed."
Outside the planet, the Great Elder stood in the vacuum of space, gazing at Chen Mang, who stood equally unprotected. A strange glint flashed in his eyes. "This planet below is the trial ground. Only participants are permitted to enter."
"The Holy Arrow trials primarily assess temperament and potential, not combat prowess."
"Therefore, there will be no combat scenarios and no danger whatsoever."
"Mm."
Chen Mang nodded slightly, took a step forward, and plummeted in free fall from the high altitude toward the planet below, eager to witness the so-called Holy Arrow trials.
After Chen Mang had left, the dozens of Elders turned to watch his retreating figure before erupting into a cacophony of debate.
"Great Elder, he's not even a member of the Sagittarius Clan! Can he truly pass the trials?"
"Even if he passes the assessment, he's not of the Sagittarius Clan. Would he truly prioritize the clan's interests above all else?"
"Moreover, his civilization level seems quite advanced, and he doesn't appear weak."
The Elders turned to the Great Elder, their voices rising in a clamorous debate.
Among them, the Great Elder commanded the highest prestige and widest renown. They had once attempted to create someone comparable to the Holy Arrow in status.
The Holy Arrow was the strongest among the Divine Archers.
Why couldn't the Berserkers have their own supreme warrior, a War God? This would at least provide a leader and prevent the Rugged Civilization from descending into chaos. But the effort ultimately failed. After generations of cultural transmission, everyone only recognized the Holy Arrow. A War God? Where did that come from? No one knew or had ever heard of such a figure.
"Rest assured," the Great Elder murmured. "Regardless of his civilization's Tier, if he truly passes the assessment, he will become the Leader of the Rugged Civilization. Our resources will be at his disposal, and our forces will answer his command."
"Once someone enjoys the power and benefits of a position, they will instinctively shoulder the responsibilities that come with it."
"He will instinctively protect the Rugged Civilization and its interests, because doing so also protects his own."
"Even though he's not one of our clansmen."
"But—"
"Time is running out. The Rugged Civilization desperately needs a Holy Arrow to descend."
"The countdown for that matter is nearing its end."
The surrounding Elders fell silent, their faces etched with worry.
Meanwhile—
Chen Mang had successfully landed on the planet.
As he touched down, he found himself in an empty, desolate landscape with no structures in sight. Only a few characters formed from white clouds floated in the air:
["Holy Arrow Position Assessment for the Sagittarius Clan: Commencing."]
["Before proceeding, candidates must understand the responsibilities and obligations of the Holy Arrow."]
Immediately afterward, countless water droplets coalesced into a screen before him, displaying a high-altitude view resembling a map from Doppler radar.
The map showed the Sagittarius Clan currently controlling approximately six galaxies, covering a vast territory. Millions of light-years away, a massive train army was advancing menacingly toward the Sagittarius Clan.
The camera focused on a middle-aged man with a full beard.
Everyone around him referred to him as "Holy Arrow Lord."
The man let out a mighty roar, his voice seemingly echoing in the ears of every Sagittarius Clan clansman. He drew his bowstring taut, aiming at the enemy millions of light-years away as an energy arrow gradually materialized and locked into place.
With a resounding thrum, the Sagittarius was launched!
Along its trajectory, the arrow relentlessly absorbed core energy, its power growing exponentially.
Simultaneously, every Divine Archer in the Sagittarius Clan drew their bows and released a Star Arrow Shot.
These countless Sagittarius arrows, launched from every corner of the galaxies, rapidly absorbed core energy along their paths. Some moved swiftly, others more slowly, but they gradually converged into a single, colossal Sagittarius arrow of terrifying power.
The energy range of this arrow was beyond visual perception.
He watched as the "Sagittarius" seemed to cleave through the cosmos, rapidly traversing the universe until, thirty-five minutes later, it successfully struck the massive military force preparing to enter a wormhole millions of light-years away.
With a single strike, the entire military force was annihilated.
Not a single survivor remained.
"..."
Chen Mang narrowed his eyes, gazing at the scene before him, and murmured, "That's quite the destructive power."
He didn't know the exact Armor Tier of the trains, but the sheer force visible to the naked eye was undeniable. He now understood the purpose of the "Holy Arrow": only this sacred artifact could simultaneously summon the Divine Archers of the Sagittarius Clan to unleash this devastating strike.
This was the Rugged Civilization's ultimate trump card, their foundation's killing move.
However, if this was the case, Chen Mang wondered if the Rugged Civilization even needed the "Holy Arrow" at all. After all, the strike's primary power stemmed from the collective force of numerous Divine Archers.
The Holy Arrow merely served as a catalyst.
For this strike to be effective, a large number of Divine Archers was essential.
But—
By this time, the Rugged Civilization had few Divine Archers left. Chen Mang felt the existence of the Holy Arrow was almost meaningless. Even if it still existed, they couldn't execute the Star Arrow Shot. This foundation-level killing move had effectively become inaccessible to the Sagittarius Clan for the foreseeable future.
Without dwelling further, he continued watching.
The scene shifted.
The Holy Arrow Lord, who had led the charge and fired the arrow, seemed to see the enemy's annihilation in his mind's eye. He raised his longbow triumphantly, roaring his victory to the heavens. At the same moment, clansmen across the Sagittarius Clan's territories erupted in jubilant cheers!
Then, cracks began to appear across the Holy Arrow Lord's body. In an instant, he shattered into countless starlight fragments that dispersed into the cosmos, leaving not even a complete corpse behind.
The surrounding clansmen mourned with sorrowful expressions, but without surprise, as they bid farewell to the Holy Arrow Lord. Soon after, a new Holy Arrow Lord was appointed.
Just then—
The enemy launched another relentless assault. Without pause, the new Holy Arrow Lord led his clansmen in executing the Star Arrow Shot once more, utterly annihilating the enemy's newly launched expeditionary force with overwhelming force.
The price was that the newly appointed Holy Arrow Lord was once again reduced to ashes.
Chen Mang watched the scene unfold, his lips twitching slightly. So, the Rugged Civilization's ultimate trump card consumed the life of the Holy Arrow?
One use, one dead Holy Arrow?
The following scenes repeated endlessly—the same plot, different people.
It wasn't until the sixth Holy Arrow Lord perished that the hostile civilization was finally driven back, never daring to invade again.
The Sagittarius Clan had achieved victory, leaving behind six tombstones for their fallen Holy Arrow Lords.
The images gradually faded away, replaced by a line of text:
[As the Holy Arrow, while you enjoy the rights granted to you by the Sagittarius Clan, you must also be prepared to sacrifice yourself for them at any moment.]
[Are you prepared for this?]
[Are you willing to sacrifice yourself for the Sagittarius Clan at any moment?]
[Yes/No.]
Without the slightest hesitation, Chen Mang decisively chose "No."
Immediately, another line of text appeared on the screen:
[Trial Failed]
(End of the Chapter)
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