"Warning: This hero is the reincarnation of an ancient deity. Recruitment may result in unforeseen consequences!"
"Warning: Recruiting this hero will attract the attention of ancient gods!"
"Warning: Recruiting this hero will attract the attention of ancient immortals!"
"Warning: Proceeding with recruitment..."
Pan Jinlian's status screen left Lucien utterly baffled.
On the surface, she seemed like an ordinary mortal, yet her talents included extraordinary charisma, paired with a bloodline that imposed severe limitations.
The description of her background only deepened his confusion—she was the reincarnated daughter of Doumu Yuanjun, a legendary deity.
Worse still, Pan Jinlian's disappearance from her original world had already caught the attention of several ancient celestial beings.
Recruiting her would make those ancient powers focus their attention on him.
In the myriad realms of existence, gods and celestial beings were innumerable. Lucien had no way of knowing who these "ancient gods" or "ancient immortals" might be.
But if they were indeed divine or celestial, their power was sure to be overwhelming.
Doumu Yuanjun...
Lucien's brows furrowed as he dug through his memory.
"I think I've heard of her in mythology before."
Some legends described Doumu Yuanjun as a manifestation of Primordial Heaven's will, others as a projection of Taiyi Yuanjun. In some versions, she was the first divine consciousness formed at the dawn of time.
In yet other tales, she was said to be a consort of a great emperor in ancient history, known as Zi Guang.
Different worlds had their own myths, each varying wildly in details.
If the Doumu Yuanjun of Pan Jinlian's heritage matched any of these stories...
It spelled trouble.
The deity's name might not seem particularly intimidating at first glance, but her descendants were renowned across countless realms.
Her eldest son? The famed Emperor Gouchen!
Her second son? The illustrious Lord Ziwei!
Even the Seven Stars of the Big Dipper were among her successors.
And now, this mysterious and ancient deity's daughter had appeared as Pan Jinlian.
If Lucien recruited her, what kind of consequences would ensue?
Images began flashing through his mind.
The next day, Lucien imagined the scene as Doumu Yuanjun, along with her celestial sons—Lord Ziwei, Emperor Gouchen, and the various stars of the Big Dipper—all materialized outside his territory.
"Hmm? You're Lucien, right?"
"We heard you're quite bold!"
Lucien could already feel his face contorting in despair, his gut clenching with discomfort.
"Celestial Lords, no need for this!"
He shuddered, shaking off the bizarre mental image.
"Lord Wu?"
Jia Yingchun's soft voice snapped Lucien out of his thoughts. She gazed at him, her large, curious eyes full of concern.
Pan Jinlian also looked uneasy. Her sad and delicate demeanor only made Lucien more exasperated.
"Master Wu, if my presence troubles you, I will leave."
Pan Jinlian's voice was tinged with sorrow. Her fair, refined face looked both grateful and resigned.
"My family is nothing but mortals, powerless and insignificant. Lord Lucien, I understand if you disdain someone like me."
Pan Jinlian had stayed in the territory long enough to grasp a few details. After speaking with Jia Yingchun and observing the others, she understood that this was no ordinary land.
The heavens and myriad worlds—concepts that had once seemed inconceivable—were now her reality.
Here, she was just an ordinary mortal, far inferior even to the lowest-ranked soldiers.
To call herself a "hero" felt laughable.
Lucien sighed. "You're no mere mortal."
"Huh?" Pan Jinlian tilted her head in confusion.
Lucien hesitated for a moment, weighing the pros and cons of recruiting her.
The upside was obtaining a hero with Extraordinary Charisma.
This unique trait, much like luck, was a special attribute that defied conventional boundaries.
Everyone possessed some level of charisma, which encompassed more than just physical beauty. It included demeanor, conduct, and interpersonal skills.
However, Extraordinary Charisma elevated this to supernatural levels. It turned charisma into an influential force capable of reshaping reality.
For instance, a necromancer would find it nearly impossible to recruit an angel.
But with Extraordinary Charisma, not only could a necromancer sway angels to their side, but they might even win over an archangel.
In magical realms, unicorns typically only allowed pure-hearted women to ride them. However, someone with Extraordinary Charisma could tame such creatures with ease, regardless of gender.
In cultivation worlds, sentient artifacts often chose their own masters. Without the artifact spirit's approval, one could never truly wield such treasures.
Yet, with Extraordinary Charisma, even the most reluctant artifact spirit might submit willingly.
This level of influence transcended limitations, breaking the rules of countless worlds.
It was comparable to luck, the hallmark of so-called "Children of Destiny."
Those blessed with great luck could turn calamities into opportunities, stumble across divine treasures by chance, and find ancient artifacts lying by the roadside.
Those with extraordinary charisma, on the other hand, could smooth their way through life, bending people, objects, and even fate itself to their will.
Pan Jinlian's charisma score of 199 was staggering.
For comparison, Jia Yingchun's score was only 12.
"The difference is absurd... But then again, she's the reincarnation of an ancient god!"
Lucien was tempted to recruit her, but the unknown risks gave him pause.
As Lord of the Earth, he held certain advantages.
If any foreign deities sought to target him, they would first have to contend with the protective gaze of Earth's guardians.
However, the uncertainty surrounding Pan Jinlian's divine origins and potential ramifications was enough to give him second thoughts.
"Why am I always thinking of the worst-case scenarios?" Lucien shook his head, chastising himself.
Things might not necessarily turn out badly.
Still, to err on the side of caution...
"Perhaps I should consult Lady Mistdream."
Mistdream, the most powerful figure he knew, was likely capable of assessing the situation. Though her true strength remained a mystery, her reputation suggested she could crush entire cities with ease.
"Yes, I'll ask Lady Mistdream!"
Lucien exhaled deeply and turned to Pan Jinlian.
"Please wait here for a moment. I'll be back shortly."
"Yingchun, look after her."
With that, he strode out of the room.
Pan Jinlian watched him leave, her expression tinged with uncertainty.
"Miss Jia," she whispered.
"Don't worry," Jia Yingchun reassured her gently. "Our lord is kind. And with someone as beautiful as you, there's no way he'll let you slip away."
"W-what are you saying!"
Pan Jinlian's face flushed crimson. She bit her lip, her embarrassment so palpable it seemed to take physical form.
Seeing this, Jia Yingchun couldn't help but feel a mix of admiration and envy.