"My lord!"
Lin Daiyu and Qin Keqing quickly approached, while the Qin warriors stood on guard, keeping a vigilant eye on their surroundings.
Lucien waved his hand dismissively and headed toward the collapsed palace hall.
Within the ruins, clusters of glowing orbs shimmered faintly in the gloom.
These were the rewards for clearing out the monster nest and represented the greatest concentration of civilization's remnants.
After all, this had once been the palace of the Night Star Clan.
"Alright, let's see what we've got!"
Among the rubble, Lucien began collecting the glowing orbs one by one. Altogether, he retrieved 17 bundles, 14 ordinary treasure chests, and 1 special golden chest.
Of course, the treasure chests didn't contain gold or silver coins, but rather valuable items and resources. The golden chest, in particular, suggested a bountiful reward, though there was always the chance of disappointment.
Lucien switched to the Jia Yingchun template, which offered higher luck, before opening the bundles and treasure chests:
"Gained: 300 Void Crystals, 800 Void Source Stones, Equipment [General's Armor]."
"Gained: 1,100 Void Crystals, 800 Void Source Stones."
"Gained: 230 Void Crystals, 67 Void Source Stones, a worn-out staff."
"Gained: 2,120 Void Crystals, 1,730 Void Source Stones, Skill Book [Anti-Magic Blade]."
By the end, Lucien tallied a haul of nearly 8,900 Void Crystals and 5,200 Void Source Stones—a satisfying return.
"Maybe I should wait and let Yingchun open more when we're back home. With her 12 Luck, I could potentially get even more Void Source Stones," Lucien mused.
For now, he stashed all the unopened chests and led the group back.
The dead city was as eerily silent as ever. Beneath the crimson blood moon, there wasn't a single sound of life.
The journey back to Taiyin City was smooth.
There were no dark beasts attacking along the way, likely because Lucien's current doom count wasn't high enough to trigger their aggression.
With his troops marching confidently, they exited the ruined city and returned to the safety of the domain.
Upon arrival, the atmosphere visibly lightened. This was their home—a place of comfort and safety for everyone under Lucien's rule.
Lucien didn't immediately deal with the unopened treasure chests. Instead, he took the injured soldiers to White Cloud Pavilion, where they could rest. The pavilion automatically consumed resources from the territory's stockpile to treat injuries.
After ensuring their comfort, Lucien left without ceremony.
Outside the pavilion, one of the Qin warriors approached and saluted.
"Your Majesty! After your departure, more than 700 dark beasts launched consecutive attacks of varying strength. It appears they were merely testing our defenses."
The cold, beautiful warrior removed her bronze mask, revealing an enchanting face framed by raven-black hair adorned with a feathered ornament.
"They were no match. The spoils have already been stored in the Little Universe World," she added calmly.
Lucien couldn't help but admire her firm yet elegant figure. He wrapped an arm around her waist as they walked, finding her demeanor both reassuring and alluring.
Her toned physique wasn't what one might call delicate, but her proportions were nothing short of ideal.
Lucien couldn't help but reflect on the warriors' physical attributes. Despite their rigorous training and immense strength, they hadn't become overly muscular. Their power lay hidden beneath their supple frames, making them all the more remarkable.
Even the injured Qin warriors displayed incredible resilience. Their wounds scabbed over quickly, and fractured bones would soon heal, thanks to their remarkable vitality.
Accompanied by this cold beauty, Lucien arrived at the Mysterious Tavern, where he was greeted by Jia Yingchun.
"Ah, my lord, your timing is impeccable!" she said with a soft smile, her gaze carrying a hint of mischief that made Lucien's heart stir.
"Is there news?" he asked curiously.
Yingchun nodded. "We've got a new guest at the tavern."
"Is it human?" Lucien's face darkened.
Since its construction, the Mysterious Tavern had welcomed over twenty guests. While it was undoubtedly useful, functioning much like a hero-recruitment inn, most of the visitors had not been human.
From soft-bodied creatures and stone golems to draconic beasts and tree spirits, the variety of species was vast.
Lucien had no issue recruiting non-human heroes, provided their combat strength justified the cost. But most of the guests had been of blue quality, with the occasional white or green rarity—and very rarely, purple.
After so many lackluster recruits, Lucien had almost given up hope. He'd begun saving resources for a visit to the Red Pavilion, where he could directly acquire golden-quality heroes instead.
"Don't worry, my lord. This time, it's a human! I guarantee you'll be interested," Yingchun said with a teasing smile.
Her delicate features and coquettish demeanor made it hard for Lucien to resist teasing her back.
His curiosity piqued, he entered the tavern.
Inside, two guests occupied separate corners.
On the left sat a Magugu Clan warrior—a six-armed, insect-headed creature of blue quality.
On the right was a slender figure seated gracefully in a chair, holding a cup and cautiously observing her surroundings.
Lucien's attention immediately turned to this human woman.
She wore a traditional dress and had her hair styled like a servant girl's. Her delicate face exuded a natural charm, youthful yet strikingly beautiful. Despite her young appearance, her figure was surprisingly well-developed, threatening to strain her dress at the seams.
Jia Yingchun approached her and introduced Lucien with a warm smile.
"Miss, I've brought the lord of this domain."