Lin Daiyu's intention was clear to Lucian.
She desired a good sister to accompany her, someone she could bond with in this strange new world. Perhaps, deep down, she even longed for the friends she once knew.
But Lucian hesitated. His first summon had yielded a legendary hero, Lin Daiyu. Would his second summon live up to such standards?
Still, the thought of having another hero, and the soft suggestion from Lin Daiyu, tugged at his resolve.
"Lucian, it's just…" Lin Daiyu's voice faltered as she noticed his contemplation. Her calm demeanor gave way to nervousness, a rare sight from the otherwise composed beauty.
"It's nothing." Lucian waved dismissively, flashing her a reassuring smile. "First, let's deal with the treasure chests."
He gestured toward the battlefield.
The land beyond the walls was strewn with the remains of the undead army. Among the decaying bodies, faint glimmers began to appear, marking the formation of treasure chests.
618 fallen monsters equaled 618 treasure chests.
"This… might take a while." Lucian chuckled dryly.
Collecting the treasure was a grueling task. By the end of it, Lucian was nearly exhausted, leaning on Lin Daiyu for support.
Despite her delicate frame, she effortlessly carried her share, her graceful movements belying the weight of the loot.
Once done, Lucian stored the chests in his inventory for later. There was no point in opening them without Lin Daiyu present, as her [Golden Threads of Destiny] passive could influence the rewards, albeit slightly.
Back at the [Red Pavilion], Lucian wasted no time.
He sent his Steel Armored Boars to rest and feed, ensuring they were prepared for the next battle. Then, he and Lin Daiyu stood before the altar.
"Time to upgrade," he muttered.
[Red Pavilion] Upgrade: Level 1 → Level 2
Cost: 200 Void Source Stones.
Unlocked: Second hero slot, maximum hero level increased to 2.
The altar emitted a faint glow as the upgrade completed. On the surface, the Red Pavilion appeared unchanged.
Lucian walked in and took a seat at the ornate table.
"Let's begin the summoning."
Summoning at the altar could be done in two ways: Basic Summoning for 10 Void Crystals, or Advanced Summoning for 100 Void Crystals.
While the former had decent odds, the latter offered a significantly higher chance of obtaining a powerful hero.
"I got lucky with Lin Daiyu, but that was thanks to my blessing," Lucian mused. "Without it, I probably wouldn't have gotten a legendary hero."
He decided to start with a few Basic Summons.
Lucian placed ten Void Crystals on the table.
A swirl of ink-like mist materialized, forming into a painting. Shadows flitted across the image, their edges glowing faintly with copper, silver, and gold hues.
"Let's see what fate has in store this time…"
The shadows stopped on a copper outline.
"Summoning complete: Obtained [Emerald Silk Robe]."
Lucian stared at the elegant green dress that materialized in front of him.
"…Seriously? A dress?"
The chair opposite him remained empty.
Lucian sighed and tried again.
Ten Void Crystals after another, the results ranged from copper-rank trinkets to one silver-rank equipment.
The silver pull wasn't bad.
[Heavenly Silk Gloves]
Type: Equipment
Grade: Purple (Rare)
Level: 10
Attributes: +20 Constitution, +5 Spirit
Special Effect: [Dustless] (Remains clean and pristine under any conditions).
Restriction: Requires 50 Constitution.
"These will be perfect for Lin Daiyu," Lucian thought.
However, the rest of the results were… disappointing.
Seven ornate dresses, a box of rouge, and a decorative jade staircase. Beautiful, yes, but utterly impractical for battle.
Lucian couldn't help but grimace.
Frustrated, he decided to go all-in with an Advanced Summon.
Placing 100 Void Crystals on the table, he initiated the summoning.
This time, the swirling mist coalesced into a far more vibrant and intricate painting. The shadows within glimmered brighter, their edges glowing with golden light.
Suddenly, the figure of a woman emerged from the mist.
She wore a red wedding gown, her figure adorned with a phoenix crown and a cascading veil. Her delicate face exuded elegance and charm, though her expression was tinged with surprise and confusion.
Her wide eyes met Lucian's.
"Summoning complete: Obtained Hero – Qin Keqing."
Lucian's breath caught.
Qin Keqing's presence radiated a blend of nobility and allure. Her crimson attire, reminiscent of a bride, contrasted sharply with her soft, almost timid demeanor.
"Master…" she whispered hesitantly, her voice like the chime of a silver bell.
Lucian blinked, momentarily at a loss for words.
Lin Daiyu, standing beside him, smiled faintly. "It seems I have a sister now."