NOVPUBSeeing Horace and his two companions, be it the Tauren, Humans, or Black Prison Clan, all paid their respects with utmost reverence.
Horace, Burns, and Sinier were not only Lord-Level nobles but also the three major Guardians of the Watcher Nest.
Their prestige here was unparalleled.
Seeing that Horace and his group were accompanying a youth, many curious glances were cast towards Lu Qingfeng.
Horace pointed to the vast valley and introduced it to Lu Qingfeng, "This place was taken over by Grandfather Sinier and Uncle Burns 1,400 years ago, gradually providing refuge to many wandering humans and Black Prison Clanspeople. I was brought here by my father and other clanspeople 500 years ago. After 300 years, I progressed to Lord Level and was given the title of 'Baron Furious Battle', becoming the third Guardian of the Watcher Nest."
In Horace's description.
Whether it was the Watcher Nest, the Fire Blade Sanctuary, or even further distant places like Star Shining Floating City and Thorny Rift Valley, all were located in a realm known as the 'Heavenly Punishment Abyss.'
Legend has it.
The Heavenly Punishment Abyss consists of seventy-two layers, with thirty-six layers within the Material Realm and the other thirty-six in the Heavenly Realm.
The Watcher Nest and previously mentioned locations are situated on the first and weakest layer of the Heavenly Punishment Abyss. The deeper down, the stronger each layer of the Abyss becomes. Reaching the thirty-seventh layer, entering the Heavenly Realm, the power of the Abyss Master reaches at least High-level Legend or even the Holy Domain.
Extremely terrifying.
Even the first layer of the Heavenly Punishment Abyss poses great dangers to the weaker races residing within it, such as the Human Clan, Black Prison Clan, and the Tauren Clan. The persistent threat of Abyss Creatures, such as the Poison Scorpions and Blood-sucking Worms, is enough to claim the lives of ordinary humans, Black Prison Clan members, and Half-orcs.
And then there are terrifying demons like the Purple-eyed Bone Dragon.
Once aroused, striking at the Watcher Nest, even with the resistance of Horace and other three Guardians, often results in heavy losses.
Surviving in the Abyss, is exceedingly challenging.
Thus, many strong individuals from vulnerable races often stand out, establishing sanctuaries and camps to protect their fellow clanspeople and the weak.
The Watcher Nest, Fire Blade Sanctuary, and Star Shining Floating City were all established under such circumstances.
Of course.
The former two differ greatly from the latter, and are not comparable.
"Watcher Nest has been established for one thousand four hundred years, marking a long history and has seen generations of descendants from the three clans. The defeated Abyss Demons total thirty-seven, with four times causing near-destructive impacts on Watcher Nest."
"Now, within Watcher Nest, there are a total of forty-two thousand seven hundred Humans, along with seven thousand four hundred Black Prison Clan members, and fifteen thousand one hundred Tauren."
Horace relayed the basics of Watcher Nest to Lu Qingfeng, then with sincere bull's eyes, looked at Lu Qingfeng, "Baron Guangyuan, Horace sincerely hopes you can stay at Watcher Nest and become the fourth Guardian, protecting the vulnerable children of the three clans."
Lord-Level is rare
If Lu Qingfeng could be retained at the Watcher Nest, in future encounters with Abyss Demons like the Purple-eyed Bone Dragon, it might not result in major casualties.
Horace, feeling a deep attachment to Watcher Nest, his home, earnestly hoped that Lu Qingfeng would stay and together, better protect the safety of more than sixty thousand members of the three clans.
"Let me think about it."
Lu Qingfeng naturally didn't want to be restricted to one place, but for now, Watcher Nest seemed a suitable dwelling. Once he became familiar with the situation on the first layer of the Heavenly Punishment Abyss, it wouldn't be too late to leave.
"This is a big decision, indeed something to think about carefully."
Seeing Horace about to urgently inquire further on his impatient face, Sinier quickly stepped forward to block him, smiling at Lu Qingfeng.
Lu Qingfeng didn't mind.
Although Horace was a Lord-Level powerhouse, he possessed an innocent nature; Lu Qingfeng held no malice towards him.
No rush to go to the Fire Blade Sanctuary.
Lu Qingfeng first settled down in Watcher Nest.
...
[Player discovers a new world - 'Barbarian God Realm', reward Experience Value: 30000000]
It's unclear if it's due to the high value of the Barbarian God Realm or because Lu Qingfeng's cultivation is higher than at the beginning of his reincarnation. This discovery of the Barbarian God Realm rewarded Lu Qingfeng with thirty million Experience Value.
"Thirty million!"
"Enough for me to advance to the mid-stage of the Solid Pill Realm, saving me no less than two hundred years of arduous cultivation!"
Watcher Nest.
Inside a stone house atop Watcher Mountain.
Lu Qingfeng's eyes revealed a look of surprise.
Just this thirty million Experience Value, even if he were to die immediately in the Barbarian God Realm, would still be incredibly profitable.
With great joy within.
Not rushing to use the Experience Value to enhance his cultivation, Lu Qingfeng began to organize the information obtained since arriving at the Barbarian God Realm.
"Barbarian God Realm is divided, so-called 'Legends' cannot enter the Material Realm, even newly ascended Legends are not allowed to stay in the Material Realm, this situation is absolutely perfect for me."
Lu Qingfeng sat cross-legged in the stone house, thinking to himself.
According to his understanding.
Passing the Four-Nine Heavenly Tribulations, also referred to as 'Heavenly Punishment' by people like Horace, signifies the promotion to 'Lord Level'.
Thus.
Lord-Level should correspond to the Core Formation Stage in the orthodox Immortal Dao system.
This is the highest combat power of the first layer of the Heavenly Punishment Abyss, and also the highest combat power in the entire Material Realm.
That is to say—
"In the Material Realm, Jiedan True Man is the pinnacle."
"The Core Formation Stage corresponds to the Lord Level in the Barbarian God Realm. The Lord Level is subdivided into duke, marquis, earl, viscount, and baron. A newly promoted Lord Level, which is at the rank of baron, is equivalent to the Void Core Realm. The strongest, the Grand Duke, still falls within the Lord Level, theoretically should be at the Golden Core Realm or its peak."
"If this is really the case, then the space for me to act is vast."
Lu Qingfeng's eyes gleamed with brilliance.
With his background, even before promoting to Core Formation, he was powerful enough to dominate among True Men. After ascending to Jiedan True Man, there was no match for him within the Core Formation Realm.
And within the Material Realm, there simply are no stronger beings beyond the level of Core Formation.
Isn't this allowing Lu Qingfeng to act unbridled under the heavens!
"To the west, there is a Thorny Great Rift Valley, where Duke Jingji is stationed, under whose command are gathered many fierce Abyss Creatures. They are hostile factions against Star Shining Floating City in the east."
"First, let's test the capability of this Duke Jingji, see whether he's stronger or weaker compared to a Golden Core Expert, then plan the next steps."
Lu Qingfeng recalled Horace's introduction to the surrounding situation and set his strategy.
However—
"Before that, I should first digest the thirty million Experience Value and boost my strength to mid Solid Pill realm."
Lu Qingfeng smiled.
His aura surged as he entered into secluded cultivation.
...
Far away, thousands of miles from the Watcher Nest.
A massive and stunning city floated above the clouds, sparkling with starlight that illuminated the land beneath, looking down upon the human world.
Inside the Floating City.
Within the meeting hall.
A round table set, where five different looking, racially diverse powerful figures were seated.
These were the five dukes of Floating City, also the highest councillors of Star Shining Floating City.
They were gathered here at the moment.
In the air, a Crystal Ball floated, a scene playing—
A young man took off a Golden Ring from his wrist, gently tossed it, easily subduing the Purple-eyed Bone Dragon that resisted Meteor Fire Rain and Fire Blade Slash, and crushed an Earth Element Giant.
Finally.
His eyes seemed to look towards the five dukes, a slight smile appearing at the corners of his mouth.
"The Crystal Ball records secretly, so covert that even marquis-level powers might not notice, yet this young man discovered it."
Among the five dukes, an elderly woman with white hair spoke in an aged voice.
She was the only human present.
If Horace and others were here, they would recognize her as the strongest human between Thorny and Star Shining Land, one of the five dukes and highest councillors of Star Shining Floating City, Duke Lorrel.
Duke Lorrel was proficient in Death Magic, capable of summoning an army of Dead Spirits, and had a very prominent reputation in the entire first layer of the Heavenly Punishment Abyss.
Honored as 'Death Spirit Guardian'.
"The Purple-eyed Bone Dragon has strong defensive power and the ability to emit corrosive poison. If it flees to the Corrosion Demon Cave, even we would be helpless. Yet, this youngster subdued it effortlessly."
"Not simple."
The centaur strongman sitting besides Duke Lorrel, with a holy expression, voiced his opinion.
He was a strongman from the Centaur Clan, similar to Duke Lorrel, a ruler of Star Shining Floating City, named 'Duke Toynbee'.
A faithful follower of the great Bright God, wielding justice and holy power, referred to as the 'Absolute Decree' of Star Shining Floating City.
"A newly advanced Lord, just a baron, isn't remarkable. It's his magical instrument that contains a power as holy as Duke Toynbee's power of decree. If we could obtain the method to craft this magical instrument or get the magical instrument itself for detailed study, our future encounters with various demons in the Heavenly Punishment Abyss would become much easier."
Unlike Duke Lorrel and Duke Toynbee's viewpoints and focus.
Originating from the Dark Night Elf race, known as 'Alchemy and Potion Master' Duke Doyle, stared at the Demon Suppressing Golden Ring in Lu Qingfeng's hand in the image, his eyes radiating fervor.
"Does Duke Doyle intend to seize this young man's magical instrument?"
Duke Lorrel turned her head, anger showing on her relaxed face.
"Duke Lorrel misunderstands."
"Not seizing, but discussing and borrowing. This magical instrument is unlike any other in the Heavenly Punishment Abyss. Once we master its crafting method, our Star Shining Floating City will no longer be choked by Thorny Rift Valley. We can expand outward and shelter more suffering people."
Duke Doyle's face was fervent and pure, looking at Duke Lorrel, "Does Duke Lorrel think this young man would not be willing to contribute this power for the future of Star Shining Floating City, for the sake of thousands of people?"
Duke Lorrel's murky eyes flashed sharply, pointing at Duke Doyle sternly, "Our Star Shining Floating City was established with the principle of protection, not plunder. I absolutely do not agree that you should, by any coercive means, demand this magical instrument or its crafting method from this young man."
"Duke Lorrel—"
Duke Doyle's Dark Night Elf's strange face showed a hint of a smile, just about to speak again.
