After forming the secret room, Qi Yun calmed his mind and spread his thoughts along the established wave network.
Using the Lord God's instinctive abilities, Qi Yun began his search for potential candidates on Earth.
The first candidate had to be chosen carefully. Qi Yun had limited resources, which meant he had to be strategic in selecting the first person. His resource pool was almost empty, so he needed someone strong enough to help him rebuild it.
Ever since Qi Yun had discovered which world he was in, he had narrowed down a few possibilities for his first recruit.
First, Captain America—Steve Rogers—was a strong contender. He was a man of great integrity, with a heart of gold and the kind of physical prowess that could take on nearly anyone. His abilities allowed him to go toe-to-toe with some of the strongest beings in the world, including Thor and the Hulk. However, the drawback to choosing Captain America was that his development would be slow. Rogers, despite his exceptional strength and strategic mind, was primarily a soldier, and in the early stages, that meant he would not be the most versatile ally.
Second, Peter Parker, aka Spider-Man, was another option. He was fast, strong, and incredibly intelligent—especially when it came to science. Peter's enhanced agility and spider-sense made him capable of handling many challenges. However, Peter's youth and impulsive nature were significant risks. He was more likely to make mistakes on missions, and his naivety could jeopardize the success of any objective. While Peter's death wouldn't be a catastrophic loss to Qi Yun, the failure of the mission would be. How long would it take for Qi Yun to recruit another candidate if Peter failed?
Third, there was Agent Phil Coulson from S.H.I.E.L.D. Coulson had years of experience in espionage and operations, and his warm, approachable personality made him a good leader of sorts. He was what Qi Yun would consider a "novice village head," someone with a lot of potential, but still lacking the strength to accomplish more complex tasks. Despite his connections within S.H.I.E.L.D., Coulson's limited combat abilities made him a riskier pick. Choosing Coulson would also expose Qi Yun to potential scrutiny, as S.H.I.E.L.D. could get involved and, at worst, discover the Lord God's presence.
Fourth, there was Tony Stark. The most ideal candidate. Stark's genius-level intellect and his ability to build high-tech weaponry and armor made him a prime choice. With his Iron Man suit, Stark could take on threats even beyond the typical capabilities of a super soldier. His intellect alone made him an asset, and he could accomplish almost any task. The downside, however, was that Tony Stark's reckless nature and brash personality were a double-edged sword. Qi Yun could not afford to have Stark's egocentric tendencies sabotage his plans, especially considering Qi Yun's current position. And, of course, Tony's safety was a concern. If he were to be captured or killed, Qi Yun wouldn't have the means to save him. Despite these drawbacks, Qi Yun believed Stark was the best choice. The risks and rewards were balanced, and his skills would give Qi Yun a significant boost.
After considering the options, Qi Yun made up his mind. Tony Stark, currently located in the Middle East, would be his first recruit.
Once Qi Yun confirmed his choice, he shut off any lingering doubts and focused solely on the task at hand. There was no point in overthinking it—what was done was done, and it was time to move forward.
With a final surge of effort, Qi Yun established a connection to Tony Stark.
At that moment, Tony was fighting desperately to escape from a group of terrorists, his Iron Man armor malfunctioning as he swung his mech around, trying to gain control of the situation.
"For those who are qualified... the Lord God's space will open for you..." Qi Yun's voice echoed in Tony's mind.
Tony froze, his hand instinctively reaching for the wires on his chest. Was he hallucinating?
[After testing, the qualified person's physical injury is serious… his vitality is stable…]
[After scanning, the intelligence level of qualified candidates exceeds 99% of the sample population...]
Tony blinked in confusion. This wasn't a hallucination; something was going on.
Dr. Ethan, standing beside him, noticed Tony's distant expression and walked closer, looking concerned.
"Tony, are you feeling alright? Is the power out?" Ethan asked.
Tony raised a hand, signaling for him to stay quiet. A new opportunity had just presented itself.
[First-time selection benefits are being expanded...]
[Expansion completed. Tony Stark, will you join the main god space?]
Qi Yun anxiously awaited Tony's response. If Tony rejected the offer, it would be a disastrous start. Why did he, the Lord God, always have to give candidates the choice to accept or decline? Would it have been too difficult to just make the decision for them?
Tony paused, his mind racing. Finally, he spoke softly, "What exactly is the Lord God Space? What do I gain by joining, and what do I have to give up?"
Ethan was close enough to see Tony's lips move, but couldn't hear the words. He wondered if the electrical components embedded in Tony's body were affecting his brain.
[Joining the Lord God Space will allow you to travel across worlds and complete tasks within a given period. The degree of task completion will determine the rewards you receive…]
[The Lord God Space is omnipotent!]
Tony's eyebrows raised. The information was incredibly detailed, and the idea of being able to complete world-spanning tasks piqued his interest. After all, making his brain process such information wasn't something most hallucinations could achieve.
"Omnipotent?" Tony asked, his voice laced with curiosity. "Can you resurrect the dead?"
His parents—Howard and Maria—flashed in his mind.
[There are many ways to resurrect the dead in the Lord God Space. The success of resurrection depends on the method, the resurrection items used, and the deceased individual.]
Tony's heart skipped a beat. The thought of being able to bring his parents back to life overwhelmed him, but he quickly steeled himself. This wasn't the time for impulsive decisions.
"Can you get me out of here?" Tony asked, the desperation in his voice growing. He still needed confirmation.
[The number of inquiries has been exhausted. Please choose: Join or Not Join.]
Qi Yun had set a limit on the number of questions for each recruit. Information was valuable, and he couldn't afford to provide endless answers for free.
Tony felt the pressure mount. If he joined, he would go from being a billionaire playboy to a mere "wage earner" in this strange cosmic system. But, as he quickly realized, being a wage earner was better than dying.
"I'll join," Tony declared firmly.
The moment he spoke, a flood of information surged through his mind, transforming into light and entering his body.
"Tony! Tony! Are you okay?" Ethan cried out, shaking Tony's arm.
Tony blinked, coming back to his senses, and flashed a grin at Ethan. "I'm fine. Trust me, we're going to get out of here soon."
Ethan, still confused but relieved, nodded. "Just stay safe. If you fall, we're both dead."