On January 5, 2233, according to the Qianyuan calendar, Blue Star established a connection to the Dark Realm in the Endless Abyss, known as the Hub of Myriad Worlds, ushering in the age of the supernatural. At 1:30 p.m. that day, Xing Shuo was born.
After the first exploration team returned, humanity gained supernatural powers, and the vast age of Abyss exploration began.
In 2238, as exploration pushed deeper and connections with newly discovered Dark Realms grew more numerous, the state opened up the first opportunities for civilians to develop Dark Territories. Private adventuring groups could establish their own town-level outposts, provided they paid a regular management fee to the base city responsible for their area and followed orders in wartime.
This move encouraged private capital and labor to invest heavily in developing the Dark Territories, creating jobs and stimulating the economy. It also strengthened overall control over these territories, preventing dark creatures from gathering in large numbers in remote places and triggering a Dark Tide. At the same time, it eased the burden on the military, allowing more troops to be deployed at the front.
Thus, a whole new class came into being: the Dark Territory Lords.
