Han Wu walked to the front of the podium and gazed out at the students, all the while releasing his pressure as a Major God.

Ignoring the stunned looks on the students’ faces, he began, “Some of you know me, but some of you don’t, so let me introduce myself.

“I’m Han Wu, an upcoming third-year student and valedictorian for my first two years at Imperial College. I’m also Xu Hai’s student and a Major God.”

The students all gasped with surprise. It was an incredible feat for a student to become a Major God before even entering their third year. Even among the lecturers in the Imperial College, half were only Gods, and very few were Major Gods.

“What’s so impressive about that? You’re the Holy Son of Death and have the support of the Death Faction? Why are you showing off?” a student questioned, dissatisfaction oozing from every word.

Han Wu blinked at the student. He hadn’t expected the War Faction to look into his background and present it to the planted students just to smear his mentor’s reputation.

“It’s true that I’m the Holy Son of Death and also have good ties with the Dark Faction, but you’ve mistaken the timeline. I only became the Holy Son of Death after Xu Hai accepted me as his student.”

Shock painted the students’ faces. They couldn’t help but wonder at Xu Hai’s connections.

“I can also tell you that I started way lower than everyone else in this room,” Han Wu continued. “You can check the records from my high school if you want. I’m certain that the War Faction is well aware of this.”

Han Wu pointedly glared at the few students who had been slandering Xu Hai.

“During my time as a reserve student, I met my mentor Xu Hai. He saw how hard I was working and chose me as his student. I am who I am today because of his tutelage. My achievements are a direct result of his efforts,” Han Wu said plainly.

The students were astonished. For Xu Hai to elevate a student who started weaker than them into a Major God in just two years... it was undeniably a huge achievement!

If Han Wu could become a Major God in two years under his tutelage, what about them? The Imperial College had chosen them as prodigies amongst prodigies. Their potential was as great as Han Wu's, if not better than when he started out. Even if they couldn’t become Major Gods, becoming at least a God was still plenty.

The students gazed at Xu Hai with new eyes, interest clear on their faces. They were willing to risk participating in a divine war, letting their core race become cannon fodder and fighting the Butcher, if it meant they could ascend as Gods.

“So what? Wisdom God King Xu Hai is still just trying to recruit us as cannon fodder!” one of the student plants cried out in dissent.

“Why should our painstakingly nurtured core race be sacrificed in your war?” another added, continuing their smear campaign.

As they expected, Xu Hai felt awkward enough about their words that he couldn’t bring himself to retort. Most of the students were Divine Beings or Demigods, so the quantity and quality of their units were subpar, really only usable as cannon fodder. There was simply no way they could be part of the main vanguard.

Aware of this, the planted students used it to try to disrupt the Wisdom Faction from being built up.

Han Wu chuckled at the blatant plot. “Then let me ask you this. Do you want the treasures and resources in the Wisdom Faction’s vault? Of course you do. But why should I give them to you? What right do you have to access them?

“That right comes from using your units as fodder for the divine war. Do you think your units won’t die if you invade another civilization? They’ll die in wars regardless! If they die while invading another civilization, then you lose your investments, but if you participate in this divine war, I can guarantee that your units won't die for nothing!

“Also, since the Wisdom Faction is just starting out, our benefits are much higher than those of any other faction, and our restrictions are lower too. Still, at the end of the day, it’s up to you to decide if you want to join or not,” Han Wu concluded.

A wave of enthusiasm rippled through the room as the students murmured among themselves.

“Han Wu’s right. There's no such thing as making money without losing units. At least if our units die as cannon fodder, we’ll still get paid.”

“None of the other strong factions will even look at a Demigod like me, but the Wisdom Faction is willing to accept me. What am I waiting for?”

“Sir Xu Hai, I just want to ask one thing. If we win this divine war, will you kick us out because our rank is too low?” asked one student, voicing a concern that many held.

Xu Hai straightened up and answered clearly, “I won’t abandon any student, and I won’t abandon any faction member. I swear on my Divine Jurisdiction that no one will ever be removed from this faction for being too weak.”

The room erupted into a flurry of excitement.

“What are we waiting for? Sir Xu Hai, I want to join the Wisdom Faction and become your cannon fodder!”

“There can’t be cannon fodder without me!”

“My core race is the goblins. They were born to be cannon fodder!”

“Count me in! I want to see what a divine war looks like.”

In the end, many students chose to join despite the War Faction’s sabotaging efforts.

Xu Hai almost cried from happiness. This was all thanks to Han Wu. This recruitment wouldn’t have gone as smoothly if Han Wu hadn’t appeared to support him.

The planted students frowned and made to leave, only to be stopped in their tracks when Han Wu locked onto them with his Divine Authority.

“Don’t let me catch you guys doing the same thing again,” Han Wu warned. “I promise you can’t shoulder the consequences.”

The threatened students ran out of the classroom. They likely wouldn’t have the guts to join any of Xu Hai’s lectures again anytime soon.