"Probably due to the Corrosive Venom racial trait, as my followers multiplied, a snake priestess suddenly emerged who could wield Corrosive Poison Mist. Once unleashed, the toxic fog blankets a massive area—their combat power is off the charts!" Richard's face radiated smug pride as he spoke, practically glowing with self-satisfaction.
William had already pieced together Richard's situation. It seemed a member of his follower race had spontaneously awakened supernatural abilities and propagated the method throughout the population. Moreover, the cultivation technique likely had a high success rate, granting Richard's followers an early pathway to transcend their ordinary-tier limitations and access supernatural-tier power. In these early stages, when most deities relied on mundane followers, even a small group of supernatural-tier units would provide a significant combat advantage.
The Water Elemental Rule Card Richard's family had procured—which elevated the concentration of aquatic supernatural energy within his divine realm—likely played a supporting role. Typically, integrating rule cards to refine a divine realm's laws was a task reserved for post-ignition deities. Yet with just a single Water Elemental Rule Card enabling supernatural breakthroughs, Richard's followers must possess considerable innate talent for water-aligned mystical energies.
"Your luck's impressive," William remarked dryly, eyeing Richard's triumphant grin. "If your followers have truly unlocked supernatural cultivation this early, nurture them well. You might actually clinch a spot in the citywide tournament."
Preparations
At that moment, Lex's divine avatar materialized and beckoned the group. Chen Hao emerged from his own divine realm shortly after. When all four young deities gathered before their mentor, Lex solemnly withdrew a stack of shimmering cards from his spatial storage.
"Each of you receives two Advanced Anchor Teleportation Cards, 20 Exploration Beacon Cards, 20 Scan Cards, 20 Concealment Cards, and 20 Communication Cards," he declared. After distributing the resources, Lex continued, "The barren resource well we're targeting is classified as a Low-Grade Warzone. No teleportation functions within its boundaries, so you must operate within my rapid-response radius."
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"If danger arises, immediately notify me via Communication Card. I'll prioritize your rescue, and others must assist. Remember the two unwritten laws of Low-Grade Warzones: No faction may deploy more than five combatants, and no entity above demigod-tier may enter." He paused deliberately.
Seizing the opening, William asked, "Why such rules?" The others nodded in shared curiosity.
Lex scanned their faces before explaining, "It's a consensus among all civilizations active there. The resource well's poverty-stricken state makes large-scale conflicts pointless. The strongest factions—ours and the Longva Civilization—have a... complicated history. Eons ago, our predecessors established this pact."
"It's not an inter-civilization treaty, merely a gentlemen's agreement. But over time, all parties honored it. No one wants civilization-level wars over scraps." Seeing no further questions, Lex concluded grimly, "If you're overwhelmed before reinforcements arrive, I can't save shattered divine realms. This risk is non-negotiable. Anyone unwilling may withdraw now."
Richard paled but hesitated as William immediately affirmed, "I accept." Samuel and Chen Hao followed suit. Gritting his teeth, Richard muttered, "I... I'll stay."
Into the Warzone
Lex smiled approvingly. "No rewards without risks. To the staging area—coordinates follow." Activating an Advanced Teleportation Card, his divine realm vanished into spatial ripples.
The quartet replicated the coordinates, emerging moments later near a gargantuan celestial encampment. William's breath caught—over twenty thousand divine realms clustered here, with several leviathan domains exceeding 100 million square kilometers looming at the periphery.
"Move out," Lex ordered once regrouped. For fifteen days they voyaged through voidspace until reaching the warzone's threshold, all domains now cloaked.
"Here," Lex announced, materializing his avatar. As the others followed suit, he outlined the plan: "Stick together initially. Operate within five hours' travel from my realm. After acclimating, you may separate. Harvest what you can—this sector teems with demigods."
Samuel spoke first: "William's our only veteran. Lead us." Richard nodded eagerly while Chen Hao crossed his arms in tacit agreement.
"Follow closely," William instructed, steering his realm toward uncharted void. The trio fell into formation behind him, their divine sparks flickering like cautious stars in the predatory dark.
