Defeating Thor meant no more to Lucci than a feather brushing past.
He didn't care about this children's play at all. With an indifferent face, he turned and left.
Through Odin and Frigga's words, and through his brief contact with Thor earlier, Lucci had now basically confirmed where—and when—he was.
This was a world where Marvel and other elements had fused together.
Asgard was powerful, but Odin would grow old, and the shadow of Ragnarok would never truly disperse.
In the abyss of the cosmos were Thanos collecting Infinity Stones, Galactus devouring worlds, and countless ancient gods and cosmic beings hidden in the dark.
This place was not safe.
He had to become stronger.
Playing games with second-generation gods?
A waste of time.
Lucci's goal was clear—
The World Tree.
That place was filled with energy and concrete laws, the best environment for his growth at this stage.
Soon, he returned to the energy core region that pierced through the Nine Realms.
He sat cross-legged and closed his eyes.
His mind sank into emptiness, and his comprehension once again defied the heavens!
This time, his purpose was no longer merely absorbing energy.
What he needed to do was—
Observe.
His consciousness expanded without limit, as if merging with the entire World Tree.
He saw countless thick energy veins—representing the Nine Realms—slowly circulating through the World Tree's vast system.
Divine energy represented Asgard.
Life energy represented Midgard (Earth).
Frost energy represented Jotunheim.
Fire energy represented Muspelheim…
These completely different energies intertwined and collided, transforming one another within the World Tree's grand system, yet they followed some supreme rhythm, forming a massive cycle of completion and harmony.
They drew the energy of void from the roots, transported it through the branches into the Nine Realms, nourishing all living things.
The activity, birth, and death of all beings created new energy, feeding back into the World Tree.
Life had no end—its cycle flowed back and forth.
Contained within was the fundamental operation of the entire Nine Realms cosmos!
Lucci immersed his consciousness in that great circulation, as if listening to the breathing of the universe.
[You observe the energy circulation of the Nine Realms through the World Tree…]
[Your comprehension defies the heavens and begins analyzing its principles…]
[You understand the transformation of "birth" and "extinction"…]
[You understand the balance of absorption and feedback…]
[You understand the energy homology of the Nine Realms…]
[You combine your "Origin True Fire Marvelous Art" to create a new cultivation method…]
If the "Origin True Fire Marvelous Art" was an inward method—awakening his potential from within—
Then what Lucci wanted to create now was an outward method—communing with heaven and the universe, seizing external energy for himself.
Inner and outer together—this was the main path.
[Core established: resonate with the universe at the same frequency as the Nine Realms.]
[Method established: inhale, triggering an energy tide.]
[Naming the method…]
"This method triggers the Nine Realms cycle with each breath…"
"It can be called the Nine Realms Cyclic Breathing Method!"
Boom—
The instant this new technique fully formed and began operating—
The entire World Tree roared in response.
Last time, the World Tree had been passively swallowed by Lucci's absorption.
This time, it was actively resonating!
It was as if every breath Lucci took called forth the same frequency as the Nine Realms—and even the vast universe beyond.
With each inhale, the energies of the Nine Realms moved toward him and converged; even cosmic tides from beyond space and time were drawn into him.
Invisible cosmic energy condensed into a tangible tide.
Centered on Lucci, waves washed over his divine body and soul again and again.
…
At the same time.
In Asgard's temple, Odin was handling postwar affairs.
He had just signed an order to repair the Rainbow Bridge's energy loss and was about to pick up the next scroll—
When he abruptly stopped.
He looked up sharply. In his single eye, an eagle-like light flashed as he stared toward the World Tree.
A rhythm of energy—supreme, pure, faintly carrying the resonance of origin—appeared without warning.
It was vast, ancient, profound… like the heartbeat at the beginning of the universe's birth.
Even more shocking—
That rhythm actually tugged Odin's divine power and forced it to resonate.
Before it, Odin's power felt like a river meeting the sea—drawn in, yearning to approach, almost wanting to worship.
"What… is happening?"
Odin rose from the throne instantly, suspicion on his face.
What happened to the World Tree?
Or…
A frightening thought struck him.
Could it be…
Lucci again?
Unable to sit still with mountains of government affairs, Odin vanished from the throne.
The next moment, he crossed distant space and appeared near the World Tree.
When he saw the scene, even though he had already guessed it, he still gasped in shock.
Lucci was floating cross-legged in midair.
Eyes closed, expression tranquil, breathing long and deep in a mysterious rhythm.
Each breath drew in the World Tree's energy—and even cosmic tides from the void beyond the Nine Realms—forming visible bands of radiant energy that wrapped around him and flowed into his body.
The supreme rhythm that stirred Odin's divine power… was emanating from Lucci.
"Incredible… it really is him!"
Odin's single eye filled with unparalleled awe.
He could clearly feel that Lucci was no longer simply absorbing energy.
He was resonating.
Every inhale resonated with the World Tree's Nine Realms circulation law.
Every exhale triggered deeper waves of cosmic power.
What did this mean?
It meant Lucci's talent and understanding were terrifying.
His affinity and comprehension of law had reached an unbelievable level!
Had he observed the World Tree…
And comprehended a supreme cultivation method for the Nine Realms on his own?
In that moment, only two words remained in Odin's mind—
Monster.
Genius.
No.
Calling Lucci a "monster" or "genius" felt too thin—almost blasphemous.
After a brief, extreme shock, Odin was drowned again by an even greater ecstasy.
"Haha… haha!"
He couldn't hold it in and laughed wildly in his heart.
"To observe the World Tree and actually comprehend the Nine Realms' cultivation method…!"
"This isn't a genius—this isn't a demon—!"
Odin stared at Lucci, his eyes shining, muttering in a near-dreamlike voice:
"Indeed… born with sacred destiny…"
"Lucci, you have the bearing of a Supreme God!!"
In his long life he had seen countless so-called geniuses.
Some could learn a spell quickly.
Some could lift a thousand pounds with ease.
But those only learned and applied rules the world already had.
What was Lucci doing?
He was creating.
He was giving birth to definitions.
From creating the "Origin True Fire Marvelous Art" to the present Nine Realms Cyclic Breathing Method—
Every step was carving a path no one had walked before.
Each realization paid its price, and even surpassed this world's original system of laws.
Odin was so excited he could barely contain himself.
He had once thought Lucci's future would be Asgard's glory.
Now he felt he had underestimated it.
Lucci's future might be the glory of the entire universe.
And that future supreme existence…
Was now an Asgardian prince.
Could anything be more thrilling?
Odin forced down the urge to approach.
He knew this was a crucial moment in Lucci's cultivation and must not be disturbed.
The majestic God-King silently stepped back, his figure fading into space.
Before leaving, he issued an absolute royal decree that rang directly in every guard's mind throughout the palace:
"Spread my oracle!"
"Prince Lucci is undergoing deep cultivation beneath the World Tree!"
"No one is to disturb him!"
…