Lu Din's expansion began quietly as spring rain. No armies marched. No banners flew in conquest. Just wagons rolling south—Elowen's spirit fruits in glowing crates, Vulcan's sample blades gleaming beside. Envoys carried simple offers: "Join our roads. Share our groves. Grow taxless."
First invitations came swiftly from starving realms.
The Verdant Plains Kingdom sent theirs in week one. Drought-cracked fields, bellies empty. Their queen knelt at Shadow Gorge gates, crown dusty. "Sovereign Chen," she rasped, "your fruits feed legends. Our people starve. Invite us under your law—no taxes, full protection?"
I met her at the pavilion, Yue Zhilan guarding silently. Lu Din nodded faintly beside. "Terms?"
"Verdant joins north. Our plans are yours. Plant Elowen's groves. Escort our herds free."
Elowen touched the soil sample. Vines bloomed instantly. The queen wept. "Done."
Waggons rolled back heavy—first voluntary territory. Lu Din marked maps glowing: "Plains feed livestock endlessly. Trade multiplies."
Ironridge Barony followed a month later. Bandit-plagued hills, mines choked with rust. Baron bowed deep, scars fresh. "Raiders take half the harvest. Your Hellfire escorts cleared one pass free—saved my town. Claim us. Taxless forever."
Mo Han laughed, clapping his shoulder. "Demons guard hills easily."
Ironridge joined seamlessly—mines swelling with Vulcan ore, blacksmiths' training academies. The mortal army grew, rugged, miners swinging qi-hammers.
Lu Din watched waggons return richer. "Need invites. Armies follow waggons."
Stormcoast Enclaves begged third. Pirate seas, fleets rotting. Admirals knelt on docks: "Freeport fears your Drake. Pirates sink us daily. Escort our coasts taxless—claim the waves."
Silver Drake thundered approval overhead. Freeport captains paled watching. Stormcoast sails flew north, banners trading exploding salt, fish, and pearls.
Foreign kings panicked whispers. The Wu emperor sent spies frantic: "They join without a fight?" Huang sects begged envoys: "How? No blood!"
Lu Din explained to the council calmly, "Conquer need. Starving begs for bread. Bandits beg for safety. Pirates beg for escorts. Waggons carry law, not swords."
Yue Zhilan smiled rarely. "Your vision roots deep."
Wen Zixing tallied vaults beaming. "Three territories. Revenue doubles. Population swells 40%."
Elowen walked new plains, vines turning dust gold. Farmers from Ironridge cheered: "Taxless mines! Groves eternal!"
Mo Han trained Stormcoast sailors to be demon-tough. "They sail hellfire now."
Vulcan hammered endless ore. "My forges feast!"
Citizens embraced newcomers—no prejudice. Refugee kids taught Verdant Plains dances. Ironridge miners shared ale with old farmers. Stormcoast sang shanties under harvest moons.
Rivals watched helplessly. Coalition spies reported: "No invasion. Realms beg joining."
Lu Din traced maps further. "Year three: ten realms. Year five: continent heart."
The system chimed lushly.
"Ding! Voluntary Expansion x3. Need Conquest Achieved. Reward: Invitation Cascade—Starving Realms auto-alerted. Trade Web +200%. New Title: Inviter of Realms."
The Queen of Verdant hosted the first joint feast—groves heavy under north banners. Ironridge barons toasted flawless escorts. Stormcoast admirals sang seas safe.
Lu Din raised the cup quietly. "Masters expand roots, not crowns."
I nodded, Eternal Sovereign's Fang sheathed beside blooming tables. "Need conquered. Loyalty follows."
Waggons snaked endlessly—new territories blooming taxless. Rivals plotted frantically, and armies idled.
Starving begged for chains broken. Waggons answered.
The North grew not by sword. By open hands filling empty bellies.
Invitations poured in. Empire of hands, not blood.
One advisor's vision seeded realms.