This was an era of rampant cultivation, where immortals and gods clashed, where countless races coexisted, and the cosmos itself waged endless wars. Worlds collided in the vast Void, birthing empires and obliterating civilizations.
In this extraordinary epoch, Lucian Ardane's heart burned with anticipation as he stepped forward for his moment of truth.
The ceremony of Praying to the Heavens began.
The altar erupted in radiant light, releasing an ethereal mist infused with ancient energy. It enveloped Lucian and lifted him into the air, his figure suspended as though cradled by the divine.
"May the heavens shine and humanity prosper eternally!" declared the officiant, his voice resonating with solemn authority.
The mist coalesced into streams of light and surged into Lucian's body. A faint glow radiated from him, ethereal and dreamlike.
"What is this…" Lucian's eyes widened as he felt a transformation unfold within him. It wasn't just physical; the change pierced through his very essence—his soul, his body, his entire being.
The sensation was indescribable, transcendent.
Moments—or perhaps an eternity—later, Lucian descended gently to the altar. As his feet touched the ground, he looked at his palm and saw it: a faintly glowing white orb.
The Heart of a Sovereign.
"An ordinary-grade Heart of a Sovereign," the officiant remarked with practiced indifference. Ordinary Hearts were the most common outcome and rarely garnered surprise.
Lucian's face darkened, his mind blank.
The outcome was clear: he wasn't a prodigy destined for greatness, nor a cursed soul with hidden power. He was just an ordinary person among the masses.
Years of hope, dashed in an instant. His chest tightened, his hands clenched into fists, and his complexion turned pale.
The officiant, observing Lucian's struggle, sighed softly. "Don't lose heart. History holds countless tales of ordinary Sovereigns who ascended to divinity. The Endless Void is a realm of infinite possibilities. You may yet stumble upon an immortal legacy or divine inheritance on your journey."
The words jolted Lucian from his spiral of despair. Slowly, he regained his composure.
After all, he wasn't a naive youth anymore. He had lived a life before this one and would not crumble under disappointment.
"Thank you," Lucian said, bowing slightly. Without further words, he accepted the scroll documenting his Heart and descended the Skybound Steps.
The crowd waiting at the base of the ladder watched Lucian intently. Though their gazes were varied—some pitying, others contemplative—none mocked him.
"Next! Caden Hale!"
As the next name was called, Lucian walked away in silence.
At home, Lucian collapsed onto his worn sofa, staring at the white scroll in his hand. His lips curled into a wry smile.
"Of course. How could I have been so foolish to think I'd be the main character of this story? My parents are alive, I don't have a tragic backstory, and I don't even have a cute little sister to fuel sibling drama. Sixteen years, and I've yet to find a single 'golden finger' of destiny. And now, after all that buildup, I've been granted an Ordinary Heart of a Sovereign."
He sighed deeply. "Life is suffering. I'm just one drop in an endless ocean of mediocrity."
Lucian unfurled the scroll and reviewed his territory's initial attributes:
Structures: Small Hut (Level 1), Wooden Fence (Level 1)
Population: 0
Territory Trait: Maiden's Resentment
Before the Endless Void descended and Sovereigns officially claimed their domains, all territories started the same: 200 square meters, two basic structures, and a single defining trait.
Lucian's eyes narrowed as he examined his trait.
"Maiden's Resentment? What kind of nonsense is this?"
Territory Trait: Maiden's Resentment
Grade: Ordinary
Effect: +10% productivity for all female residents.
Description: A trait born of the grievances of two generations of maidens, granting a peculiar advantage.
"Excuse me?" Lucian muttered, his voice dripping with disbelief. "This is supposed to define my domain? How is this even relevant?"
He nearly choked on his own frustration.
It wasn't unheard of for territory traits to be bizarre or unpredictable, but this was absurd.
He had heard of strange traits before—like one Sovereign whose trait turned all waste produced by their residents into deadly poison. That Sovereign had built an empire selling toxic manure and earned the nickname The King of Filth.
Compared to that, Lucian's trait seemed almost… tame.
"Well, a flat 10% boost isn't bad. If only it didn't depend on having female residents."
Lucian exhaled slowly, shaking off his disappointment. Ordinary Hearts often came with quirky traits. He could work with it.
He activated the [Dominion] menu to examine his status further.
Dominion Information
Territory Name: [Unassigned]
Sovereign Race: Human
Year Established: 1
Attributes:
Physique: 0.9
Spirit: 1.5
Inventory: Mechanical Kidney
Note: Normal adult attribute values are benchmarked at 1.
The panel was unremarkable, save for his elevated Spirit score—a likely side effect of his reincarnated soul.
"Wait… there's something in my inventory?"
Lucian's gaze landed on the entry: Mechanical Kidney!
"What the hell is this?"
All new Sovereigns started with an empty inventory—that was common knowledge, taught both online and in schools. But here it was: a single anomalous item.
Lucian's breath quickened. His mind raced, and two words surfaced in his thoughts:
Golden Finger.