The moment the triple Heavenly Gate shattered, Lucian Carter was engulfed by divine light and drawn into the upper space.
As soon as he landed, a crowd swarmed around him.
"Hey little brother, come join our god system! We'll throw in a goddess to match you with—just pick anyone you like!"
"Bah, don't listen to them! Their goddesses are all old fossils. Come to our system instead. We have first-class techniques, and all our goddesses are as beautiful as they are gentle!"
"Chen Hai, you bastard! I was here first! Stop pushing!"
The scene descended into chaos.
Lucian stood there, utterly bewildered.
Off to the side, another newcomer who had also been lifted up by the divine light assumed that the excitement was about him. Grinning smugly, he straightened his back and called out proudly, "Everyone, don't fight over me. If any god system is willing to offer me ten goddesses, I'll join!"
The noisy crowd instantly fell silent.
Every god present stared at him blankly, sizing him up.
Green onions stuck in his nostrils, a face like a beaten pig, and a posture so ridiculous even wild boars would look down on him.
"...If ten's too many, five's fine... or even three," he tried to bargain, seeing their unimpressed looks. "Worst case, one pretty one?"
Before he could finish, a god next to him kicked him flying like trash.
"Get lost, you air-polluting idiot! Throw him back down to be remade!!"
Ignoring the fool, the god who had kicked him turned back to Lucian with a bright, flattering smile.
"You, little brother, what are your thoughts? No rush—whatever conditions you have, just say the word. As long as it's not too outrageous, we'll meet them."
Breaking the triple Heavenly Gate with one punch—such a monster was too precious to miss.
Every god present looked at Lucian with burning desire.
A true prodigy like him would become the pillar of any god system in the future.
No one wanted to lose him.
Before Lucian could respond, a cool, mesmerizing voice floated over.
"Little brother, would you consider joining our god system?"
The entire crowd froze as the voice swept through them.
Realization hit, and they immediately parted, creating a clear path.
A woman walked forward slowly, each step commanding the world's attention.
She wore a black dress woven like a starry night, sparkling crystal shoes on her feet, and a grace that made the heavens dim in comparison.
Lucian stared at her, stunned.
No words could capture her beauty—she was beyond breathtaking, a goddess in every sense.
The woman's gaze fell on the token hanging at Lucian's waist, and she smiled lightly at the others.
"I'm sorry, everyone. This little brother is already marked for Chihuang Flowing Flame. You can see the token he's wearing."
All eyes shifted to Lucian—and sure enough, they spotted the badge at his waist, the unmistakable crest of the Chihuang Flowing Flame God System.
There was no arguing after that.
With reluctant sighs and dark looks, the other gods dispersed, leaving Lucian standing alone with the woman.
"My name is Xiao Luan," she said warmly. "I'm in charge of the Chihuang Flowing Flame God System. I have the strength of a Nine-Star World Creator. How about taking me as your master?"
Lucian's heart leapt.
Nine-Star Creation Level—that was already near the apex of the divine space!
He didn't hesitate for even a second.
Bowing formally, he said, "Disciple Lucian Carter greets Master Xiao Luan."
Xiao Luan's smile deepened, satisfaction gleaming in her eyes.
Good.
This young man had a firm heart—no arrogance, no hesitation. Exactly the kind of disciple she liked.
"Come," she said, lifting a hand.
The space before them parted like a bead curtain, revealing a new world filled with blooming flowers, singing birds, and endless light.
It was the home base of the Chihuang Flowing Flame God System.
There was an academy here, along with countless world fragments under their control.
Disciples with extraordinary talent like Lucian were granted monthly rights to select fragments for their cultivation.
It was leagues above those random outer academies.
After personally settling Lucian in, Xiao Luan rose to leave.
The Divine World encouraged freedom. Disciples were mostly left to their own devices to grow, and Lucian was no exception.
Still, even in this short time, he had received a tremendous advantage.
For one, he was exempt from mandatory battles between gods.
Normally, after promotion, gods were forced to compete constantly for resources.
But Lucian—he could quietly cultivate and grow stronger without distraction.
He looked down at the ancient Divine Arts book that Xiao Luan had given him before leaving, excitement bubbling up inside.
This wasn't some cheap store-bought rubbish—it was a true divine classic!
As he flipped open the first page, strands of ancient runes surfaced before his eyes, bursting with profound wisdom.
For the first time, Lucian realized how crude his earlier methods had been.
Before, he simply relied on brute force, wasting most of his divine power.
Now, with the teachings in this book, he could save 70% of his strength while achieving even greater effects.
Just one glimpse into these ancient techniques deepened his understanding of his God Domain dramatically.
That very night, news exploded across the Divine World—
The Chihuang Flowing Flame God System had claimed a monster-level genius—a prodigy unseen for countless ages.
Jealousy spread like wildfire through the other god systems.