Luna’s moonlight assault steadily whittled the Amazonian warriors’ health down to 30%, yet it wasn’t enough to make them yield.

Qin Yu and Luna blitzed toward the prophet, swiftly subduing her. Luna pressed the moonlight-forged blade against the prophet’s throat while paper lanterns summoned by her Moonlit Lantern Day skill converged around them, forming a defensive perimeter to block ranged attacks and prevent escape.

The moonlight ceased. Moments later, the remaining warriors halted—their prophet was now a hostage, leaving them no choice but to stand down.

“Now, shall we discuss terms?”

Qin Yu wasn’t here to negotiate. He was waiting for Silver Crimson Snow. Without her, words were meaningless.

“Man, you think threatening my tribe through me will work? It won’t.”

“Oh, really?”

Luna’s moonblade nicked the prophet’s throat. A thin trickle of blood appeared; her health bar began ticking downward.

“Release the prophet!”

The lead Amazonian warrior stepped forward. Clearly, the prophet mattered far more than all their fallen comrades.

“Free her, and we’ll let you leave!”

She assumed Qin Yu would agree—but forgot why he’d come.

“Unfortunately, I don’t want to escape. I want your entire Amazonian Tribe.”

“You—!”

A tense silence stretched between them.

“Bloodbog!”

Silver Crimson Snow’s voice cut through the air. The village ground liquefied into crimson mire. Blood-shadow tentacles erupted, coiling tightly around every warrior.

“Servant, you’re not entirely useless.”

Relief washed over Qin Yu as Silver Crimson Snow appeared beside him. *Finally safe.*

“Xiao Xue, my superhero—you’re perfectly on time~”

“Hmph… it was clearly *me* who…”

Luna’s chest tightened with annoyance. *She* had fought tooth and nail—Moonlight strikes, Moonlit Lantern Day—draining 80% of her mana. No credit? At least acknowledge the effort!

“You think this situation happened by accident?” Qin Yu flicked her forehead. “If you hadn’t played along, I wouldn’t have risked it alone.”

“I…” Luna’s retort died in her throat, guilt flashing in her eyes.

“But you *did* help immensely. Consider it redemption.” He ruffled her hair with a gentle smile. Luna’s shoulders relaxed. “Hmph… you’d better remember that…”

Tang Jihede and the four girls arrived to find all enemies subdued. *Lucky Qin Yu,* they thought, *landing such a powerhouse ally.*

“Are 7th-tier experts *this* strong? Nearly a hundred warriors!”

“I read online: only 7th-tier Fatebreakers with a Fated Artifact count as ‘human.’ The rest? Ants.”

Tang felt a quiet thrill—his Tier-7 qualified template meant smooth sailing to 7th tier.

The prophet hesitated, witnessing Silver Crimson Snow’s power. A 7th-tier Fatebreaker wielding a Fated Artifact? Her entire tribe charging together might wound her—but cost every life.

This was tier suppression: beyond 7th tier, one such expert could hold off an army.

“I accept your terms… but swear my tribeswomen’s safety.”

“No bargaining left,” Qin Yu replied coolly. “You’re our prisoner now—just as you said earlier.”

“…”

The prophet fell silent. Her own words, returned.

“Then… what *do* you want?”

“Absolute loyalty.”

To build a true army, loyalty was non-negotiable. Undead set the standard—unwavering devotion. Other races? Always agendas of their own.

“I understand…”

Survival outweighed pride. Swearing a blood-oath soul contract, the Amazonian Tribe now belonged wholly to Qin Yu.

Emerging from the Bloodbog, Qin Yu tasked Tang Jihede and Bingtang Xueli with finding a spot for the Territory Core—spare himself complaints. Any location here would do.

They chose a lakeside clearing.

“A lake? Perfect. Time to begin.”

Qin Yu retrieved the Territory Core and anchored it at the lake’s center.

[Territory Core Placed!]

[Select Your Desired Pantheon Realms Citizens!]

After establishing a territory in the main world, the system grants citizens from the Pantheon Realms:

- Elysian Haven: fairies, Sylvan Elves…

- Realm of the Departed: zombies, skeletons…

- Doragon: half-dragons…

Logically, choose the strongest realm. Many did in the previous life—and died gruesomely.

A weak territory invites disdain. Citizens might slack, flee… or worse, overthrow their lord.

No binding contract exists. Citizens arrive by game rules; lords must earn trust. It’s mutual benefit—or mutual ruin.

This isn’t just a game. It’s a real alternate realm bound by fate’s decree: only the victor ascends to chief deity.

Stronger citizens = fewer numbers. Weaker citizens = greater numbers.

Example: Realm of the Departed may send fifty 1st-tier skeletons and ten 2nd-tier zombies; Doragon might offer only three 3rd-tier half-dragons.

Early development needs manpower. Powerful citizens scorn labor; refugees bring instability.

Pantheon citizens arrive monthly. Quantity scales with territory level (1–10).

Upgrades require: troop buildings count, army size, army quality.

For level N (N = 1 to 9):

Upgrade to N+1 needs N+1 troop buildings. Army requirements:

Level 2: 50× 1st-tier, 25× 2nd-tier

Level 3: 150× 1st-tier, 50× 2nd-tier, 10× 3rd-tier

Level 4: 300× 1st-tier, 100× 2nd-tier, 30× 3rd-tier, 8× 4th-tier

Level 5: 500× 1st-tier, 300× 2nd-tier, 80× 3rd-tier, 20× 4th-tier, 6× 5th-tier

Level 6: 800× 1st-tier, 500× 2nd-tier, 200× 3rd-tier, 60× 4th-tier, 50× 5th-tier, 3× 6th-tier

Level 7: 1,500× 1st-tier, 1,000× 2nd-tier, 500× 3rd-tier, 150× 4th-tier, 150× 5th-tier, 10× 6th-tier, 1× 7th-tier

Level 8: 3,000× 1st-tier, 2,000× 2nd-tier, 1,000× 3rd-tier, 500× 4th-tier, 500× 5th-tier, 50× 6th-tier, 10× 7th-tier

Level 9: 5,000× 1st-tier, 5,000× 2nd-tier, 3,000× 3rd-tier, 1,000× 4th-tier, 800× 5th-tier, 100× 6th-tier, 30× 7th-tier

Level 10: 10,000× 1st-tier, 10,000× 2nd-tier, 8,000× 3rd-tier, 3,000× 4th-tier, 1,000× 5th-tier, 500× 6th-tier, 100× 7th-tier