1: Chapter 1 Awakening

"Fang Yun, Fang Yun? Wake up, are you okay?"

A pleasant voice drifted over, rousing Fang Yun from the boundless darkness.

Fang Yun opened his eyes and saw Teacher Feng looking at him with a face full of concern.

A classroom, a lesson, a school.

Fang Yun's eyes widened. What was going on? Hadn't he been fighting extraterrestrial gods on the front lines, dying as his Divine Kingdom collapsed?

How was he back in the classroom? An illusion?

Soon, the tangible sensations from his surroundings and the teacher's caring words made him instantly realize that this was no illusion.

He had been reborn!

Realizing that the teacher and his classmates were still staring at him, he hurriedly replied.

"Teacher Feng, I'm fine. I was just a bit tired from studying theoretical knowledge yesterday. Sorry for worrying you." He smiled at Teacher Feng to show he was alright.

Seeing that Fang Yun truly seemed fine, the teacher nodded and advised, "Fang Yun, don't be too anxious. While theoretical knowledge is important, today's Divine Kingdom Awakening is the crucial moment that will determine your future."

"Since you're okay, I'll prepare to start arranging the Awakening for all of you."

After saying that, Feng Qingchen teleported directly to the front of the class. This was merely a projection; her true body was not here.

Feng Qingchen was a First-Order God. Only true gods were qualified to serve as homeroom teachers for the elite classes at Sunshine High School.

"Students, next, when you hear your name, come forward one by one and place your palm on the Awakening Godstone. Don't be nervous."

"Zhang Tao."

Hearing his name, a slightly chubby boy stood up nervously, walked to the podium, and placed his hand on the Awakening Godstone.

"Zhang Tao."

"Awakened Divine Kingdom area: 300,000 square kilometers."

"Initial followers of the Divine Kingdom: 1,000 Primitive Humans."

"Awakened D-rank Talent: Planting. Follower Planting efficiency increased by 50%."

"Comprehensive Potential Evaluation: E-rank."

The students below whispered among themselves.

"That's not bad. At least he can buy more crops to grow his population at the start."

"Yeah, and since the followers have an innate Planting talent, they can give back to the Divine Kingdom faster in the future."

"It's a pity Zhang Tao didn't awaken a combat talent. If his talent were better, his family would surely invest more Faith Points in him later, making early-stage land clearing much faster."

"Sigh, I'm so nervous. I wonder what talent I'll awaken."

While the crowd around him buzzed with discussion, Fang Yun was lost in thought.

He was now completely certain that he had been reborn on the day of his high school Awakening. His memories were still stuck on the scene of his Divine Kingdom collapsing and his followers all dying.

He closed his eyes, then snapped them open.

"In my previous life, I was deceived by that bitch Su Qianqian. I can only blame myself, Fang Yun, for being blind and failing to distinguish good from bad, dragging my father down with me for nothing. In this life, I will invest all my resources into my own Divine Kingdom and never let the tragedy of my past life repeat itself."

In his previous life, Fang Yun was an absolute simp. To impress his so-called goddess, Su Qianqian, he gave her most of the resources his father had left him to build his Divine Kingdom.

Furthermore, he exhausted the power of his own Divine Kingdom to act as her logistics, providing for her unconditionally. Su Qianqian had already awakened the S-rank talent, All Things Have Spirit.

With his unconditional support, she developed very quickly. Eventually, once Fang Yun could no longer keep up with her growth, he was kicked aside, and she quickly moved on to a wealthy boy.

By the time he realized how foolish his actions were, it was too late. His Divine Kingdom lay waste, its potential squeezed dry. When his father, Marshal Fang Qing, found out, he was so furious that he severed their father-son relationship.

At the same time, his father was implicated and forced to step down as the Family Head, because many of those priceless resources belonged to the Fang Family, not to Fang Yun's personal household.

Disheartened, Fang Yun took the initiative to go to the front-line battlefields. He died at the hands of alien gods, remaining only a First-Order God until his death.

Recalling his father's disappointed and pained gaze, Fang Yun felt as if his heart were being slashed by a thousand sharp blades. He looked up, burying those agonizing memories deep within his heart.

Fang Yun swore secretly in his heart: 'In this life, I will never let you down again, Father.'

The Awakenings in the classroom continued.

"Feng Hao."

"Awakened Divine Kingdom area: 500,000 square kilometers."

"..."

"Awakened C-rank Talent: Berserker. Followers possess the Berserker bloodline; combat power +30%."

"Comprehensive Potential Evaluation: C-rank."

The words of the Federation's Highest Intelligent Lifeform carried no emotion, its synthesized electronic voice echoing through the classroom.

The other students were filled with envy upon hearing Feng Hao's talent. This was a combat talent, meaning he could pursue the path of a War Divine Kingdom in the future.

"I've heard that with the Berserker bloodline, followers might even get innate skills in the later stages. Sigh, I'm so jealous."

"There's nothing we can do. His Divine Kingdom area is larger too; his potential is clearly very high."

Feng Hao himself was ecstatic. He hadn't expected his luck to be so good—this was a C-rank talent. He clenched his fists in excitement.

As he stepped down, he shot a provocative glance toward Fang Yun. However, Fang Yun was still dazed and didn't notice him at all.

"Hmph, stop acting like some big shot. Just because your family has a bit of money, you dare to compete with me for Su Qianqian? I bet you didn't expect me to have a C-rank talent."

Seeing that the other party wasn't paying attention, Feng Hao sat back down, feeling somewhat bored.

In his previous life, Fang Yun and Feng Hao didn't get along. They were the two top simps for Su Qianqian and frequently clashed.

However, because Fang Yun showered Su Qianqian with resources from his father, and even gave her various gifts before the Awakening, he had always stayed one step ahead of Feng Hao.

Su Qianqian's long black hair was tied back in a ponytail. Although she wore the same school uniform as everyone else, it somehow looked better on her.

It was as if it were tailor-made for her; the tip of her ponytail swayed back and forth as she walked.

Her fair skin was as supple as a baby's, her features delicate, and her bright, large eyes made it hard for anyone to look away.

Her figure already showed the curves of a young woman, with a slender waist and straight, long legs that held an indescribable allure.

What adolescent boy could resist such a goddess? It could only be said that the past Fang Yun had indeed been wrapped around her finger.

And now was the moment for Su Qianqian's Awakening. Fang Yun also fixed his gaze on her, even though he already knew what talent the girl before him would awaken.

"Su Qianqian."

"Awakened Divine Kingdom area: 600,000 square kilometers."

"Awakened S-rank Talent: All Things Have Spirit. Followers in the Divine Kingdom possess innate Spiritual Roots. Once followers become First-Order creatures, they can awaken their Spiritual Roots. It is recommended for the Divine Kingdom to follow the Cultivation path."

"Comprehensive Potential Evaluation: S-rank."

Su Qianqian was also somewhat excited, her palms already sweaty. She didn't breathe a sigh of relief until it was confirmed she had an S-rank talent.

In this era where everyone became a deity, without a good talent, one could only work for others in the future, becoming a subordinate god to a powerful deity.

"Next, Fang Yun."

Upon hearing his name, Fang Yun felt no ripple of emotion in his heart, for he had long known what his talent would be.

Fang Yun calmly pressed his hand lightly onto the Awakening Godstone, a cool sensation traveling up from his palm.

Immediately after, a familiar feeling washed over him, and a barren, desolate continent appeared in his consciousness.

"Fang Yun."

"Awakened Divine Kingdom area: 1,000,000 square kilometers."

"Initial followers of the Divine Kingdom: Primitive Humans (1,000)"

"Awakened B-rank Talent: Abundance. Resource growth rate in the Divine Kingdom +50%"

"Comprehensive Potential Evaluation: B-rank."

Only those who have lost something truly know how to cherish it. Looking at his regained Divine Kingdom and this second chance at life, Fang Yun was filled with a myriad of emotions.

Just as he was about to withdraw his hand, a notification surfaced in his mind.