Returning to his territory, Lucien stepped down from the altar with a trace of emotion lingering in his heart.
Lady Mistdream hadn't spoken to him for long, but their brief exchange left him reassured.
It was perhaps a form of luck to live in the present. Lucien already stood above many others in this vast multiverse.
What's more, he wasn't just anyone—he was a maverick in his own right!
"Pan Jinlian appeared because of the Mysterious Tavern?"
Lucien pondered as he made his way to the Mysterious Tavern.
Lady Mistdream was mostly correct, though one part didn't align with her explanation.
She had claimed that heroes with reincarnated bodies—vessels robbed of their original power—were supposed to be of gray-tier quality, practically trash.
But this particular hero defied expectations.
Pan Jinlian's body and mind were forcibly set at 1, making her incapable of growth through traditional leveling methods.
Theoretically, this made sense: her attributes were far too low to merit anything beyond gray-tier quality.
Yet Pan Jinlian turned out to be a Golden Legendary hero with an extraordinary 199-point charm attribute!
"Is Pan Jinlian special, or is the Mysterious Tavern itself extraordinary?"
Lucien mused as he approached the entrance to the Mysterious Tavern.
He had immense faith in his golden finger's capabilities. If it could break the rules of the endless void's "Newcomer Trials," its limits likely exceeded Lady Mistdream's understanding.
With the earlier Red Pavilion and the dazzling gems it produced, it wasn't impossible that the Mysterious Tavern had unique qualities as well!
Upon entering, Lucien heard soft voices.
Inside, he saw Lin Daiyu and Qin Keqing already present, chatting with Jia Yingchun and Pan Jinlian.
Casting a glance at the table, Lucien then turned to look at the alien hero in another corner.
The alien nodded, and the tavern's language system translated its words into something Lucien could understand.
"Sir, do you wish to recruit me?"
"No."
Lucien shook his head.
The alien said nothing further, gave a small salute, and faded from view.
This scene had played out many times before.
At first, Lucien felt the need to apologize, but as it became routine, he realized it wasn't necessary.
Foreign beings didn't care about social norms—if rejected, they left without a second thought.
Occasionally, an alien would curse him before disappearing, muttering phrases akin to "short-sighted fool."
Lucien found such moments amusing.
"Young Master is here!"
Lin Daiyu greeted him from her chair, her delicate face carrying a hint of playful femininity.
She glanced at Lucien and asked softly, "Did you go to consult Lady Mistdream?"
"You guessed?"
Lucien was momentarily surprised as he walked over to join the four women.
Lin Daiyu raised her elegant eyes and replied gently, "How could I know your thoughts? But you had no other solution, so naturally, you sought the celestial maiden's advice."
"You're sharp as ever!"
Lucien's expression darkened, though Lin Daiyu simply laughed and leaned closer to him as a peace offering.
Qin Keqing also chuckled softly, her voice soothing. "What's the result?"
"No issues!"
Lucien nodded before turning to Pan Jinlian. Holding Lin Daiyu's soft hand, he addressed her directly.
"Miss Pan, I formally invite you to join Lunar City!"
"Ah!?"
Pan Jinlian froze in shock, her heart pounding wildly as she stared at Lucien.
Unlike the intimidating auras of those "great figures," Lucien radiated a comforting sincerity.
Furthermore, the women in his company were kind and welcoming, reflecting his own character.
"To be accepted by you, my lord, is the greatest honor for one as lowly as me."
The charming woman gritted her teeth, stood up decisively, and performed a respectful bow.
Simultaneously, a notification appeared in Lucien's mind:
"Recruit this hero? Due to her unique circumstances, recruitment costs have been reduced to 10,000 Void Crystals and 10,000 Void Source Stones."
Reduced by 10,000?
Lucien blinked before remembering the Mysterious Tavern's potential pitfalls.
If a high-quality hero appeared but the lord lacked sufficient funds, they would have to forfeit the opportunity.
"Good thing I recently gained some wealth."
Lucien wiped his brow, relieved.
"Confirm!"
In the next moment, an unseen barrier was lifted. Pan Jinlian's presence was officially recognized by the territory, and a flood of information flowed into her mind.
After a while, she recovered, her eyes wide with amazement.
"My lord… my lord! No… my master!"
Pan Jinlian seemed flustered, bowing again, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment as she faced Lucien.
"Congratulations on joining Lunar City, Pan Jinlian!"
Jia Yingchun teased with a smile, her tone warm yet playful.
Pan Jinlian shot her a glance, her small hands clutching her dress nervously.
"Master, I am but a mortal," she said earnestly. "Though you've granted me power, I'm still far from matching these ladies. I fear I'll be of little help to you."
Despite her modesty, her tone grew determined.
"However, if you ever call upon me, I will never refuse!"
Lucien laughed softly, brushing off the formal atmosphere. "Yingchun, show Jinlian around later and help her settle in."
"Yes, my lord!" Jia Yingchun nodded cheerfully before turning to Jinlian.
"Jinlian, there's not much entertainment here, but I'll take you to Mirror Lake later—it's a lovely spot!"
Pan Jinlian nodded shyly, her expression softening.
Afterward, the group moved to the Cloudshadow Teahouse to open the treasure chests Lucien had accumulated.
Each chest was unlocked one by one:
1244 Void Crystals, 120 Void Source Stones
Equipment: Flaming Spear; Item: Falcon Badge; Food Pack x3
500 Void Crystals
1000 Void Crystals, 500 Void Source Stones, Item: Flame Scroll
12,000 Void Crystals, 12,000 Void Source Stones, Career Proof: Flesh Hater; Quest Scroll: Starry Betrayer
Lucien leaned back, smiling. This was a productive day indeed!