North rubbed his temples, staring at the floating dialogue box in his iris, his thoughts swirling around the new numbers.

[Plot Armor: 46% - Normal]

[Survival Tax: 12.4%]

[Surreal Charm: CATASTROPHICALLY HIGH]

He wasn’t too surprised by the increase in Plot Armor—after all, he had money now, enough to grease the wheels of fate itself. The sheer amount of Images and resources he had purchased had also contributed.

More power = More chances of survival.

At 46%, that meant that almost half the time, he could expect luck to intervene if things went bad.

That was good. But not good enough. And then, there was the Survival Tax.

For the first time, it was in the positives—12.4%.

That’s not bad…

It meant he was no longer considered a completely disposable background character. However, to be truly safe, he needed that number to stay above 50%. Otherwise, his Plot Armor might start declining, lowering his chances of surviving dangerous encounters.

"So basically… I need to keep actively stacking advantages to avoid getting wiped out by the system."

…

He walked out of the third merchant office in the outer city, his head slightly aching from all the similar conversations. Each one had explained their services with practiced smiles: they take Visionaries to hitch rides with them for a high payment. But their traveling caravans moved like snails, stopping between every big and small city along the way, ensuring their goods were traded properly, and waiting for their escort forces to recuperate after each leg of the journey.

The fastest of them would still take half a year to reach his destination.

That was too slow.

Then, he also learned he could hire a Rank 5 Visionary’s transport services. But that came with another issue. Rank 5 Visionaries were eccentric as hell. Most of them traveled alone, following their own rules, caring little for things like normal schedules or stable paths. Some were mercenaries, others reclusive hermits, and a few were just lunatics who did whatever the hell they wanted. Sure, traveling with one would be faster, but the risk factor was completely unpredictable.

Neither option was ideal.

North weighed the pros and cons in his mind as he headed toward his second destination - the Golden Road Plaza. As the innkeeper had informed him, It was the gathering place for all sorts of travelers: rogue Visionaries lounging against walls with their weapons displayed openly, mercenaries comparing maps in small groups, scholars clutching scrolls and looking for protection. Some sought companions for dangerous expeditions, others just wanted to share the cost of hiring guards.

A large notice board was plastered to the center wall, covered with papers seeking everything from sword visionaries to wilderness guides. People clustered around it, pointing at different announcements and haggling over prices.

North didn’t immediately jump into conversations or approach people. Instead, he did what he always did first—observe. He adjusted his robes, keeping his posture relaxed but confident, and moved through the crowd with an easy, natural gait.

The Face Fog Image ensured that even if someone looked at him directly, they wouldn’t remember his face clearly later.

At one stall, a pair of mercenaries talked about how the Lustrous Sky Clan was increasing patrols on outbound routes.

"Damn, they're getting serious. You hear about that mess at Plum Gardens last night and the murder of the Fourth young master lover. I bet it's related."

At another table, a group of scholars in deep blue robes were discussing heading toward a ruined sect site to retrieve ancient texts.

"We’re willing to pay well for an escort. Rank 3 Visionaries at minimum. The route is dangerous, but the rewards will be immense!"

"Too risky. The last group that went never came back."

Further along, he overheard a merchant negotiating with a group of Visionaries.

"I can’t afford full payment up front, but I’ll give each of you ten Rain Coins now, and twenty upon safe arrival at Luminous Creek City."

"Only thirty Rain Coins? You want us to fight off bandits for that?"

"I have cargo worth ten times that. If you get me there safely, I’ll add a bonus."

Wide Creek City. That was one of the safer nearby cities.

North finally decided to act. He moved toward a small gathering of travelers nearby, keeping his ears open as they spoke in hushed voices. One of them—a man with a scar running down his cheek—was speaking to two younger Visionaries.

"We leave at dawn. We don’t wait for latecomers. If you’re in, you pay your share, or you provide something useful."

One of the younger Visionaries, a girl with a thin sword strapped to her back, frowned. "We already told you—we can handle ourselves. We’re not dead weight."

The scarred man scoffed. "Sure. With your Rank 2 strength… Every rookie says that until they’re bleeding out in a ditch."

North stepped closer, casually inserting himself into the conversation.

"Sounds like you’re heading toward Verdant Flow Valley."

The scarred man turned to look at him, eyes assessing, trying to figure out whether North was worth acknowledging.

"That depends. Who’s asking?"

North gave a relaxed shrug. "Someone looking for a seat out of this city."

The man’s eyes flickered slightly, then he gestured to a side table. "Sit. Let’s talk."

Yan Shu leaned forward.

"You look like someone who doesn’t want to be noticed."

North smiled slightly. "And you look like someone who prefers to ask fewer questions."

Yan Shu chuckled, tapping his fingers against the table. "We’re indeed headed for the merchant City. Fast, direct. No unnecessary stops. You got three choices—pay for your seat, fight for your place, or prove you’re useful."

North considered it.

"I could easily pay my way, but then I’d just be another rich target to them."

"If I offer to fight, they’ll test me, and I don’t know if I can take them all if things go south."

Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

"This is tough. I should’ve dressed less conspicuous before coming here, maybe looked a little more desperate. But it’s too late for that now."

At the moment, aside from money, he had nothing else to offer. No fighting reputation, no connections, and his survival-based skills weren’t something he wanted to openly reveal.

Which meant, "I can only take my chances."

With that, North sighed internally before looking back at Yan Shu, keeping his face neutral. "Fine. I’ll buy my place."

Yan Shu studied him for a moment longer before nodding. "Smart choice."

North folded his arms and asked, "How many people are in the party?"

Yan Shu leaned back in his chair, arms loosely crossed, his expression calm but measured. "Twenty-one in total. It’s better to travel in large groups when moving through the wilderness. Makes it harder for bandits or beasts to pick us off one by one."

North nodded. That made sense. The bigger the party, the harder it was for a random ambush to wipe them all out.

Yan Shu continued, "Among us, there’ll be two Rank 4 Visionaries, eight Rank 3s, eight Rank 2s, and including you, three Rank 1s."

That was a decent spread of power. The two Rank 4s would be the main pillars, dealing with larger threats, while the Rank 3s would serve as the bulk of the fighting force. Rank 1s like North? They were basically extra baggage—either they’d prove useful, or they’d be expendable.

Yan Shu gave him a long, assessing look before stating the price. "Traveling fee is forty Rain Coins."

North exhaled slowly. Not cheap. But for the security of a large group and a straight shot to Verdant Flow Valley, it wasn’t too bad either. Besides—he had just robbed enough young masters to make forty Rain Coins feel like spare change. Without hesitation, he reached into his robes and pulled out the required amount, placing the coins neatly on the table.

"Done. When do we leave?"

Yan Shu smirked slightly, clearly pleased with the lack of haggling. "Tomorrow at dawn. Be at the east gate before sunrise. If you’re late, we leave without you."

North nodded. "Understood."

…

…

For the evening, North booked a room in the nearby inn to rest for the night. After finishing his dinner and freshening up, he methodically checked the locks on the door, ensuring no unwanted interruptions. With everything secured, he sat on the flat wooden bed, exhaled deeply, and let his consciousness slip away—

Immediately, he was inside his Imaginary Island.

The small floating landmass, no larger than a modest courtyard, stretched out before him.

Unlike the blank, featureless space it had once been, it was now filled to the brim—the results of his recent shopping spree laid out like an overflowing treasury. On one side, a small mountain of Boundary Expansion resources, its various containers stacked neatly, waiting to be used. In the opposite corner, a series of sealed jade boxes sat in orderly rows. Each one contained an Image, carefully preserved until he was ready to refine them.

North took a slow look around, feeling a sense of satisfaction wash over him.

"This… this is what progress looks like."

From his small mountain of resources, North picked up two specific containers. These were the most expensive, rarest resources he had purchased at the Pavilion of Images. One was Dragon Saliva Soil, the other Deep Sea Coral Powder. According to the senior attendant at the Pavilion, these two resources were among the best boundary expansion materials available on the market. And North had bought them in great quantities.

With his calculations, this supply would last him until he reached Rank 3—a fact that filled him with immense relief. Most Visionaries had to scrounge and fight for years to gather enough resources just to expand their Imaginary Island a little bit at a time.

But he had solved that problem in a single afternoon of ruthless spending.

Money really is the strongest ability in this world…

Now, it was time to put these resources to use. North picked up the first container—a large black-lacquered box that held the Azure Dragon Saliva Soil.

The attendant had explained its origins to him earlier: This soil was formed in the places where dragons slept, their saliva mixing with the earth, creating the perfect resource for Imaginary Island growth. The moment he opened the box, a peculiar, pungent scent drifted into the air—Something earthy, almost mineral-like, but with a strange tang that he couldn’t quite place.

So this is what dragon saliva smells like?

The soil itself was an ultra-fine gray powder, soft to the touch yet oddly dense. He reached in and scooped up a handful, feeling the weight of it against his palm before dumping it into a large mixing bowl.

Next, he turned his attention to the second container—a jade box with intricate ocean wave carvings. Inside was the Deep Sea Coral Powder. The moment he opened it, a completely different scent filled the air—A crisp, salty fragrance, reminiscent of fresh ocean air and deep, untouched waters. Unlike the Dragon Saliva Soil, which was dull gray, the Deep Sea Coral Powder was a vibrant, shimmering blue—each grain reflecting light like crushed gemstones.

This powder didn’t just expand an Imaginary Island, it also strengthened the growth process and, most importantly, increased the production of Nether Essence.

That last effect was what truly made it valuable. Most resources in the world could expand an Imaginary Island’s boundaries, but very few could actually increase its Nether Essence output. The ability to generate more Nether Essence naturally was a massive advantage, ensuring that a Visionary’s cultivation speed remained steady without requiring external resources.

This was a long-term investment, and North had no intention of wasting it. He carefully scooped out a handful of the blue coral powder and added it to the bowl with the Dragon Saliva Soil.

North lifted the bowl in both hands, weighing it carefully. By his estimate, he had mixed more than two kilos of the material. It doesn’t matter. I’m using all of it…

Without hesitation, he walked across his Imaginary Island and began spreading the mixture over the land.

The soil was fine, almost like sand, and it dispersed quickly over the verdant grass and platform. The Deep Sea Coral Powder shimmered under the faint light, its tiny particles melting into the ground, disappearing into the island’s surface like rain sinking into dry earth.

It took him less than two minutes to finish. A Rank 1 Imaginary Island was simply too small, at this stage, everything was still in its infancy. But soon, that would change. Finally done, North stepped back, brushing off his hands, now he just needed to wait for the result and water his field three times a day.

It was finally time to open the boxes that contained Images. Looking at the Jade boxes, North's eyes glowed and he couldn't keep his hands still. The first set of Images he chose to open were the Island Seed Images. These were by far the cheapest of his purchases—each costing only one Rain Coin, yet holding practical value for the long-term development of his Imaginary Island.

At first glance, they looked no different than sunflower seeds—small, oval-shaped, and surprisingly soft to the touch, almost like sponge. But despite their inconspicuous appearance, they were far from ordinary. These were single-use Images, meant to be planted into an Imaginary Island where they would take root and grow into various forms of useful structures or resources. He scanned the tiny, seemingly fragile seeds in his palm, then looked across his small but steadily expanding Imaginary Island, searching for the best places to plant them.

After a moment of consideration, he selected a few choice spots a few steps away from the center, where his Nether Essence Well was located. Carefully, he pressed each seed into the soil, letting them disappear into the ground one by one. The moment the final seed sank beneath the earth, something shifted.

North took a step back as he felt a sudden drop in the Nether Essence Well’s energy levels—a sharp drain, almost cutting it in half in mere seconds.

He frowned slightly, feeling the cost of activating the seeds, but before he could worry too much—

The ground trembled faintly.

From the soil, small white sprouts began to push their way up, wiggling like newborn creatures stirring for the first time. In mere moments, they matured, rising from the ground, rapidly transforming into structures before his eyes.

To his left, a cluster of soft, rounded mushrooms had fully formed, growing in an almost perfect circular arrangement.

As they solidified, their shapes changed slightly—some mushrooms flattened and widened, turning into soft, plush seats, while others stretched higher, forming a sturdy-looking central mushroom table.

North walked over, pressing a hand against one of the mushroom chairs. The texture was springy, but surprisingly comfortable. I could probably sleep on this… the surface was soft as cloud-stuffed pillows. He tested the mushroom table, finding that despite being made from the same material, it was noticeably firmer, retaining the necessary hardness to function as an actual table.

To his right, a different transformation had taken place. A vine-like plant had emerged, its tendrils stretching skyward before coiling around themselves in a spiraling pattern. At its center, clusters of deep red, jelly-like fruit had begun to take form, glistening as if freshly ripened.

This was a food-producing Island Seed Image.

A plant that could continuously generate food, as long as his Imaginary Island had a steady supply of Nether Essence. North reached out and plucked one of the red fruits, inspecting it closely. The outer layer was smooth and slightly translucent, revealing a soft, gelatinous core beneath. Curious, he took a small bite. The taste was… unexpected.

A mix of sweet and slightly tangy, almost like a cross between a pomegranate and honeydew.

Not bad. If I ever get stuck here for long periods, at least I won’t starve…

Looking at his handiwork, North felt satisfied despite knowing these Images were technically a waste of money. But presentation mattered - once his Island grew larger, he'd need proper buildings, gardens, maybe even a pavilion or two. These simple furnishings were just the beginning. After all, an Imaginary Island wasn't just a cultivation space; it was a reflection of its owner. And North intended his to be perfect, even if he had to start with mushroom chairs and jelly fruits.

Glancing back to the rest of the Image boxes, they were a lot more than two-three dozens, he began to open one by one and placing them in proper space around the Imaginary Island according to their needs and habitat. There substance were placed inside another sets of sealed containers placed at the edge of the Island.