"I have fulfilled my covenant. Now, heed my summons and descend!"

The next day, Qin Yu initiated the contract summoning. He had kept his promise and established his own domain—so the fifty children from the abandoned monastery in the Bloodsoul Domain could finally be summoned.

Soon, their forms shimmered into existence across the newly built land.

"My Lord!"

Overjoyed that Qin Yu had truly delivered, the children beamed. This domain was ten thousand times brighter and safer than the Bloodsoul Domain they’d endured.

"What a beautiful place!"

"Is this the real world?"

"Look at those flowers and trees!"

...

To house them, Qin Yu had prepared a two-story villa: girls upstairs, boys below.

"Hong."

Qin Yu called the children’s eldest sister. Clad in the Blood Bishop attire, Hong carried a newfound solemnity—the crimson ensemble suited her name perfectly.

"My Lord… thank you!" She bowed deeply. Qin Yu had rescued them from that nightmare. Another day delayed, and monsters would have hunted them again…

"No need for thanks. I honored our agreement. Show them their new home—you’ll manage it."

"Yes, sir!"

The sternness melted from Hong’s face, replaced by a quiet, genuine smile. She led the children inside while Qin Yu gazed toward the horizon. The wandering merchants should be arriving soon.

After domain establishment, the Wandering Merchant Guild routinely visited new lords—selling unpredictable wares, always aiming to profit. Their boasts rarely matched need. Beyond food and raw materials, everything carried inflated prices. A shady trade.

In the distance, a caravan crept closer.

Hong returned promptly. "My Lord, everyone is settled. Any further orders?" She had fully stepped into her role.

"Hong, take this list. Bring these ten children—those with aptitude 7—to the Blood Cathedral for class advancement."

"Yes, sir!"

Only Hong and one little girl held aptitude 8. *I’ll speak with her later,* Qin Yu thought. *They’ll be this domain’s future strength.*

The caravan rolled in. A portly man, neck and right arm glittering with five golden ornaments, hopped down. He scanned the land, locked eyes with Qin Yu, and strode over with a beaming smile.

"Esteemed young Lord! A true pleasure to meet you~"

His noble poise, lavish robes, and guards flanking several Level 6 experts signaled his clientele: domains Level 5 and above.

"The pleasure is mine," Qin Yu replied. "A merchant of your stature rarely visits humble new domains."

"Please, My Lord! Foresight is a merchant’s greatest asset…" He stepped closer. "A rising star like you? Naturally, I seek connection."

Truthfully, he’d been assigned here simply for proximity. He’d expected little—but the domain, and Qin Yu, changed his mind.

"Enough talk. Show me your cargo."

"At once!"

Gems, silks in vivid hues, premium ingredients… clearly luxury lifestyle goods. No wonder he thrived.

"I’ll take all 500,000 medicinal herbs."

"Done! Since you’re buying everything, I’ll sell at cost—2 gold per plant!"

Herbs were tedious to gather and rarely sought outside alchemy. He was eager to clear the space.

"But My Lord—won’t you inspect other essentials? Ore, timber, provisions your domain may lack…"

"No rush. You’ll stay three days?"

"Exactly. I depart in three days."

"Then we’ll discuss later. Hand over the herbs first."

Qin Yu paid 1,000,000 gold. 900,000 remained.

He’d work overtime, refining every herb into high-grade healing potions with Luna’s help. Grandmaster alchemy made three days enough. Selling at 15 gold per bottle? After costs, a net profit of 6,500,000. Freedom to buy without restraint.

The merchant shrugged. *Three days. Let’s see what surprise this unusual lord has in store.*

—

Xiao Ya logged out and lifted her game helmet.

In the dim room, a single faint light flickered—her reality.

The heavy silence pulled her back. Another full day immersed… time to rest. Obsession wasn’t healthy.

Yet in-game, she felt *normal*. She felt the warmth of saving others—things reality denied her.

More and more, she believed her true self lived only there.

She turned on the TV. A news feature highlighted *Fate Paradise*, the era-defining game.

Its slogan glowed: *"A spiritual paradise beyond the real world."*

Not empty words. After recent disasters on Blue Star, society’s relentless development deepened wealth divides. People craved solace. And so… this game was born.