Chapter 261 : A Dominating Entrance

Chapter 261: A Dominating Entrance! The Kingly Lord! Shocking the Land of the Stars!

Xuan ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍Qingfeng was no ordinary person.

Over ‍​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍the past century in Sacred Azure City...

He ‍​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍had once been regarded as the most promising Human Lord.

He ‍​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍had fought in the Abyss for forty years.

Although ‍​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍he had been defeated and retired...

He ‍​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍still possessed Tier 4 cultivation.

Even within Sacred Azure City...

His strength was by no means considered weak.

Naturally, he could sense the waves of disdainful and contemptuous gazes directed at him.

He could also hear the mocking remarks from several Lord Mentors.

He was not particularly angry.

As a Human...

He had long since grown accustomed to it.

The Land of the Stars was filled with order.

Yet it was also governed by an extremely rigid hierarchy.

For those at the bottom...

Breaking free from the class they were born into was unimaginably difficult.

Xuan Qingfeng had once walked on thin ice.

Yet...

He had ultimately failed.

Over the past several decades...

Not a single newcomer had appeared with the potential to challenge Tier 5.

Even those with Tier 4 potential...

Were exceedingly rare.

He hoped that his student would go farther than he had.

Even after eventually retiring...

If Hang Yu could establish some status within the Land of the Stars...

It would, to some extent...

Increase the Human race's overall foundation and influence.

At the very least...

Humans would no longer be mocked simply for participating in an event like this.

Just then...

Two enormous Lord Mentors walked over to greet him.

One was a giant with metallic skin and arcs of lightning flashing all over his body.

The other was a Treant covered entirely in black thorns, with luxuriant branches and leaves growing from his back and head.

“Mentor Lei Yan, Mentor Shu Qianmu. Is there something you need?”

Both of them were also Lord Mentors of Sacred Azure Academy.

Coincidentally...

They worked in the same Mentor Hall as Xuan Qingfeng.

They were fairly familiar colleagues and shared a decent relationship.

Shu Qianmu asked,

“The student representing you this time... is Hang Yu, the one who returned last time, isn't he?”

Xuan Qingfeng did not hide it.

“That's right.”

Lei Yan and Shu Qianmu exchanged glances.

Shu Qianmu said,

“Judging from Hang Yu's performance last time...”

“To reach Tier 2 within just a single Star Month...”

“For a Human...”

“That is truly exceptionally rare.”

Lei Yan added,

“Indeed.”

“Even you, Mentor Xuan...”

“Back then it took twenty to thirty Star Months to achieve that.”

Xuan Qingfeng replied,

“If you have something to say, then say it plainly.”

Lei Yan nodded.

“Then I'll speak frankly.”

“Don't blame me for being too direct.”

“Although Hang Yu's performance exceeded all of our expectations...”

“Sending a Human Lord who has developed for only two Star Months to participate in a tournament like this is an enormous waste of resources!”

Shu Qianmu continued,

“Even if he barely qualifies to participate...”

“He'll have a very difficult time passing the qualification round.”

Xuan Qingfeng asked,

“And what does that have to do with either of you?”

“Nothing.”

“We merely have a sincere suggestion.”

“What suggestion?”

Lei Yan answered,

“The tournament hasn't officially begun yet.”

“Why not persuade Hang Yu to withdraw?”

“The Participation Token can be transferred to any other Lord who meets the registration requirements.”

Shu Qianmu continued,

“I know quite a few young Lords from major races.”

“For various reasons, they failed to secure entry into this tournament.”

“Yet they have a strong desire to participate for the prestige.”

“This would not only earn us a valuable favor...”

“But also exchange Hang Yu's Participation Token for real, tangible benefits.”

Xuan Qingfeng became angry.

A powerful aura erupted from his body.

Forcing both Mentors to involuntarily retreat several steps.

Mentor Shu hurriedly said,

“Please don't get angry.”

Mentor Lei added,

“Tournaments like this inevitably result in heavy military losses.”

“You understand better than anyone how difficult it is for a Human Lord to build an army.”

“You also know how incredibly hard it is for a Human Territory to cultivate an elite force.”

“If Hang Yu truly had the ability to obtain an excellent ranking...”

“Then it would be one thing.”

“But that's obviously impossible!”

“His foundation is still far too shallow.”

“And as a Human...”

“He is simply too fragile.”

“Don't forget.”

“Lord Hang Yu's territory reaches the Eternal Night Layer.”

“That is a region watched by countless forbidden beings and occupied by Evil Gods.”

“For someone like him...”

“The greatest priority should be surviving for as long as possible and extending his career as a Lord.”

Xuan Qingfeng's mood grew heavy.

He had to admit...

There was some truth to those words.

Although the Rising Stars Lord Tournament was intended for newly emerging Lords...

Any Lord who had served for fewer than twenty Star Months...

(Equivalent to less than three Earth years.)

Could apply or be recommended to participate.

Hang Yu...

Had only become a Lord two Star Months ago.

With so little time...

How many troops could he possibly have developed?

How could he possibly compete against Lords with longer experience...

Greater development...

Stronger backgrounds...

And overwhelming racial advantages?

Although opportunities like this tournament were exceedingly rare...

It would most likely end in complete failure.

In the end...

Even Xuan Qingfeng himself...

Did not truly believe Hang Yu could survive for very long within such an Abyss Plane.

The best outcome he had ever envisioned for Hang Yu...

Was to survive steadily for several years.

Accumulate enough capital.

Then retire safely.

After that...

He could shine in fields beyond being a Lord.

At that point...

Whether becoming a Lord Mentor like himself...

Or joining another territory with generous compensation...

To assist a more promising Human Lord...

He would still be contributing to strengthening the Human race's overall foundation.

“Rather than wasting resources in a competition where victory is impossible...”

“It would be far wiser...”

“To protect himself and withdraw while he still could.”

Seeing that Xuan Qingfeng seemed somewhat shaken...

The two Lord Mentors continued persuading him.

“You're wasting your breath.”

Xuan Qingfeng let out a soft sigh.

“Have either of you considered this?”

“Hang Yu graduated only recently.”

“He possesses neither achievements nor reputation within the Land of the Stars.”

“So why was he able to obtain qualification during the very last month before the tournament?”

Indeed.

That was rather strange.

Whether it was the Lord Tournament...

Or any other Lord activities held throughout the Land of the Stars...

Lords generally needed to first accumulate sufficient reputation and merit...

Before exchanging them for qualification to register.

Without keeping them guessing any longer...

Xuan Qingfeng revealed the answer.

“His participation slot...”

“Was personally recommended by Principal Long.”

“Even if I somehow persuaded him to withdraw...”

“Would either of you dare resell a recommendation personally granted by Principal Long?”

“...”

The two Mentors stared at one another with wide eyes.

Although they had already guessed that Hang Yu probably had some influential backer...

Neither of them had imagined...

That his recommender would be such an overwhelmingly powerful figure.

Damn it!

He should have said that earlier!

What a complete waste of effort!

Lei Yan and Shu Qianmu's scheme collapsed instantly.

At this moment...

The Return to the Land of the Stars had already begun.

One imposing young Lord after another...

Descended with nearly one hundred followers and troops.

The entire Teleportation Reception Hall quickly became crowded.

Xuan Qingfeng swept his gaze across the arrivals.

Most Lords were at Tier 2.

Many belonged to middle- or upper-tier races blessed with powerful racial Talents.

Of course...

A powerful race did not necessarily possess overwhelming initial strength.

Among the myriad races of the Stars...

The vast majority began with base strength below Tier 3.

The distinction between upper and lower races...

Was not primarily determined by starting strength.

Instead...

It depended mainly on the quality of racial Talents...

And the strength of their Vassal troop types.

The higher a race ranked...

The more innate racial Talents it possessed.

And the better the quality of those Talents.

Furthermore...

Higher races possessed numerous Vassal types.

They could summon a far greater variety of troop classes...

Covering every Tier.

As long as the Lord was sufficiently powerful...

They could directly recruit high-tier troops.

Instantly forming formidable combat power.

Naturally...

Whether advanced troop types...

Or superior racial Talents...

Could only be fully awakened upon reaching the corresponding Tier.

A Lord's cultivation level...

Was the absolute upper limit of a territory.

A Tier 3 Lord...

Could never recruit Tier 4 troops.

Likewise...

A Purple-quality racial Talent generally required at least Tier 4...

Before it could be fully awakened.

There was an enormous gap between higher and lower races from the very beginning.

And as cultivation advanced...

That gap only widened further.

This was why the races of the Stars possessed such deeply rooted class distinctions...

And such rigid hierarchies of superiority.

For a lower race to rise above its station...

Was unimaginably difficult.

It was practically impossible.

At that moment...

Lei Yan, Shu Qianmu, and the others finally welcomed their own students.

They led these Lords over.

Every one of them belonged to a powerful higher race.

Each had also spent two or three years fighting in the Abyss.

“This is Lord Lei Nu, whom I've mentioned to you many times!”

Lei Yan introduced a Tier 3 Thunder Giant Lord...

Level 28.

This young Lord's foundation and combat strength...

Had already reached the threshold of an Abyss Overlord.

Among the ninety-nine followers accompanying Lei Nu...

Six Hero Units were high-ranking Giant martial generals.

Every one of them possessed the strength of a top-tier Commander.

Far too powerful!

Xuan Qingfeng's heart grew heavier.

The advantages possessed by a superior race...

Extended into every aspect.

It was not merely that their starting point was higher.

Nor simply that their racial Talents were stronger.

It also meant they possessed an immensely powerful racial backing.

Take this young Lord Lei Nu for example.

He could effortlessly recruit all kinds of elite Giant martial generals from the Land of the Stars.

Even the Giant Marketplace available to his territory...

Was ten or even one hundred times superior to the Human Marketplace.

Whether purchasing rare materials...

Or acquiring rare blueprints...

Everything became much easier.

Under such circumstances...

How could his territory's development possibly be slow?

Humanity as a whole...

Was simply too weak.

Their circumstances were simply too difficult.

Xuan Qingfeng's greatest wish...

Was merely to contribute whatever little strength he could...

For the Humans of Sacred Azure City.

Although...

The current situation was almost impossible to change...

He still hoped...

That the path walked by Human Lords...

Might become even slightly smoother.

“So you're Lei Nu?”

“Mentor Lei Yan often says you're the finest student he's taught in over a decade.”

Lei Nu replied indifferently,

“You flatter me.”

He had no interest in becoming acquainted with a lowly Human.

Still...

Since Xuan Qingfeng was an Academy Mentor...

He gave him a bit of respect.

Xuan Qingfeng glanced over Lei Nu's remaining ninety-three followers.

They consisted of four different Giant troop types.

Every one of them was a Level 21 or above elite.

The highest-level group had already reached Levels 26 and 27.

The strongest Giant soldiers...

Had almost reached Commander-level combat strength.

How could a young Human Lord possibly compete against someone like this?

Mentor Lei Yan proudly declared,

“Lei Nu has only been a Lord for ten Star Months!”

“Yet his territory already directly controls three maps!”

“He now commands over ten thousand citizens!”

“His army is both numerous and powerful!”

“Even among the Thunder Giant race...”

“These achievements are considered outstanding!”

Xuan Qingfeng nodded.

“That truly is remarkable.”

Lord Lei Nu calmly replied,

“This is nothing.”

“If I hadn't expanded cautiously and advanced step by step...”

“I would have already conquered a fourth map.”

“Perhaps even unlocked a fifth.”

Xuan Qingfeng believed him.

The speed of a Lord's advancement...

And the speed of territorial expansion...

Were both connected to the triggering of Lord Wars.

If one wished to reduce the probability and frequency of those brutal Lord Wars...

Then deliberately slowing expansion...

Was one of the most effective methods.

Regardless...

It was truly enviable.

Sometimes...

Xuan Qingfeng could not help wondering...

If he himself had possessed the Aptitude Talents of a higher race...

He would probably have become a Tier 5 Great Lord long ago.

At that moment...

Lei Yan suddenly said,

“Mentor Xuan Qingfeng...”

“I hope you don't misunderstand.”

“I'm not trying to show off my student.”

“Oh?”

Lei Yan sighed.

“We've worked together for quite a while.”

“I simply can't bear to watch you continue wasting your time.”

“You should know better than anyone...”

“Talent is everything for a Lord.”

“A lower race...”

“Even if it exerts ten thousand or one hundred thousand times more effort...”

“Can never compare with an upper race.”

“Instead of investing your energy into Humans...”

“You'd be better off nurturing seedlings truly worth cultivating.”

“Even if you encountered ten Hang Yus...”

“Or one hundred Hang Yus...”

“They still wouldn't compare to a single Lei Nu!”

Those words...

Actually contained a measure of sincerity.

Although Humans occupied an extremely low status...

Xuan Qingfeng was still a retired Tier 4 Lord.

He absolutely possessed both the qualifications...

And the ability...

To teach far more talented students.

The only reason he refused...

Was because he had devoted himself entirely to nurturing Humanity's future.

Yet...

How many Xuan Qingfengs could Humanity possibly produce?

This was simply wasting both his time...

And his talent.

Just as Lei Yan was about to continue persuading him...

Several nearly invisible threads suddenly descended from above.

They landed upon Mentor Lei...

Mentor Shu...

As well as several nearby Lords.

Immediately...

They began performing all kinds of ridiculous, comical movements.

Among them...

Was the Tier 3 Thunder Giant Lord Lei Nu.

“What's happening?”

“My body's no longer under my control!”

“Damn it!”

“A powerful expert is controlling us!”

“Who dares do such a thing?”

“...”

Xuan Qingfeng was also startled.

Fighting within the Land of the Stars...

Was exceedingly rare.

Because the Land of the Stars was governed by the Will of the Stars.

Any malicious attack causing casualties...

Would be met with severe punishment.

Even Legendary Lords...

Were no exception.

However...

The moment he located the source...

And saw who had arrived...

Xuan Qingfeng froze.

...

Five minutes earlier...

Hang Yu's delegation had already arrived.

Yet...

Not a single person had noticed.

Partly because...

The Teleportation Reception Hall was simply enormous.

Partly because...

Everyone's aura had been completely concealed.

Ordinarily...

Even if Hang Yu possessed a method for suppressing his own aura...

He should have been incapable of concealing the strength of the entire group.

Jia Xu...

As a top-tier Overlord...

And a supreme spellcaster...

Perhaps possessed methods to hide himself.

But Wen Ping and Zhou Cang...

Had no such abilities.

The overwhelming strength of these two great generals...

Should have been impossible to conceal.

Two Overlord-level experts...

Appearing together...

Would naturally produce an oppressive aura impossible to ignore.

Furthermore...

The Ten Black Tiger Commandants...

And the eighty-five elite members of the Calamity Army...

Could not possibly all possess concealment abilities.

Even if they tried...

They could never deceive so many experts gathered here.

The moment this force descended...

It should have instantly become the center of attention.

In reality...

Thanks to Jia Xu's Purple Fortune Skill...

Eternal Night Curtain...

Almost nobody noticed this force at all.

One of Eternal Night Curtain's passive effects...

Was concealing one's aura.

Its concealment was so powerful...

That it could even erase one's Starsea Aura.

Even Abyssal Corrupted Ones found it difficult to identify the identities of the territory's citizens.

Concealing or disguising cultivation...

Was naturally effortless.

“So this is the Land of the Stars?”

Jia Xu...

Zhou Cang...

Wen Ping...

Zhang Zhongjing...

These natives who had lived their entire lives within the Abyss Three Kingdoms...

Had never dreamed they would one day come to such a place.

Every one of them looked around with boundless curiosity.

Especially after seeing the more than one hundred Lord delegations gathered throughout the hall...

Shock filled every face.

Starsea Lords!

They were all Starsea Lords!

And every one belonged to a different race!

Jia Xu could not help sighing.

“I have long heard that the Land of the Stars is the pinnacle of order and prosperity...”

“Where countless races flourish.”

“Although I have only just arrived...”

“I can already deeply sense the magnificence of this place.”

Zhang Zhongjing stroked his white beard.

“This old man also finds his horizons greatly broadened.”

“I've heard the Land of the Stars connects endless worlds and gathers the wisdom of countless races.”

“Perhaps we can find many formulas useful for our territory.”

Wen Ping and Zhou Cang...

Were both honest men of few words.

The sheer grandeur of the Teleportation Hall...

Left them utterly stunned.

They simply stood there in petrified silence.

Compared to the native generals...

The Calamity Army Players adapted much more easily.

Not because their mental fortitude surpassed the natives...

But for two reasons.

First...

Players never truly regarded this world as reality.

They simply believed it was an AI-generated virtual world.

No matter how magnificent it appeared...

Their only response was:

“Holy shit! That's awesome!”

Second...

This hidden map called Sacred Azure City...

Was already opening for the second time.

Players had long since seen countless screenshots and information on the forums.

Naturally...

They had mentally prepared themselves.

Of course...

Experiencing it in person...

Was an entirely different feeling.

Salted Fish Thrust had tears streaming down his face.

“The Land of the Stars!”

“So this is the Land of the Stars!”

“Holy shit! The production quality is absolutely insane!”

Hua Mulan exclaimed,

“We've finally arrived!”

“This is even more magnificent than I imagined!”

Green-Robed Fox shouted,

“Girls!”

“Hurry up!”

“Let's take a group photo!”

“This place is an absolute treasure for check-ins!”

Brother Pony said,

“There are so many bizarre alien races!”

“Can we interact with all of them?”

Crazy Slash Across the Street said,

“These should all be Starsea Lords returning from various Abysses, right?”

“I wonder if we can kill them.”

“Will they drop loot?”

Chief Artist immediately replied,

“That was literally my first thought too!”

Niu Shisan grinned.

“With this many aliens...”

“If we could kill them all once...”

“That'd be incredible!”

“...”

The moment these Players saw so many strange alien races...

Their first instinct...

Was to kill them.

After all...

In the eyes of the Calamity Army...

Anything capable of dropping loot...

Was a fat sheep.

Many Players immediately became eager to try.

However...

Right then...

“What's going on?”

“I suddenly can't move!”

“...”

Ye Limeng calmly explained,

“This is normal.”

“You can't move freely inside an event map.”

“Nor can you attack whenever you want.”

“We just need to follow the story.”

Little Bell added,

“To stop everyone from causing trouble.”

Arthur King asked,

“So this is the hidden map Sacred Azure City?”

“Why does it look different from the place you visited last time?”

Black Pupils Sharp Bro replied,

“Sacred Azure City is enormous according to the setting.”

“This time we're here for a special raid event.”

“So naturally we've arrived in a different area.”

“We're moving!”

“The story's finally starting!”

“I'm so excited!”

Hang Yu led the Four Heroes...

The Ten Commandants...

Along with the eighty-five Players whose bodies were currently under control...

Passing one Lord delegation after another...

Until they quickly found Xuan Qingfeng's group.

Raise My Cup to the Moon exclaimed,

“That's Xuan Qingfeng!”

Blind Swordsman asked,

“Who's Xuan Qingfeng?”

Little Bell stared at him.

“You don't even know Xuan Qingfeng?”

“He's Lord Hang Yu's mentor in Sacred Azure City!”

“He's the one who guided Lord Hang Yu into becoming a Lord!”

“So that's it!”

“Looks like he's an important NPC in this hidden map!”

However...

After the Players overheard the conversation between the various Mentors and Xuan Qingfeng...

Every one of them became furious.

They felt their dignity had been insulted.

“Did you all hear that?!”

“They were talking trash about us!”

“These Starsea aliens!”

“They actually dare look down on us!”

“Damn it!”

“Insulting Humans is one thing!”

“But they even dared insult Lord Hang Yu!”

“If I could move right now...”

“I'd stab ten transparent holes through them!”

“Let them learn that Calamity Army Players aren't easy to mess with!”

“...”

Hang Yu cast a glance toward Jia Xu.

Someone as intelligent as Jia Xu...

Naturally understood instantly.

He raised a hand.

Ten Puppet Strings shot out.

They instantly struck several powerful Lords nearby...

Including Lei Nu.

Thus...

The earlier scene had occurred.

Even the Tier 3 Thunder Giant Lord...

Was toyed with like a mere puppet in Jia Xu's hands.

“Hang Yu!”

Only now did Xuan Qingfeng notice the Human force standing among the crowd.

Hang Yu deliberately said to Jia Xu,

“Enough.”

“The Land of the Stars forbids harming one another.”

“Otherwise, the Will of the Stars will punish us.”

“Yes.”

Jia Xu obediently withdrew his hand.

Looking completely innocent...

He said,

“This subordinate merely became excited upon encountering worthy prey.”

“I wanted to see the strength of the experts in the Land of the Stars.”

“I never expected the Starsea Lords here to be so weak.”

“I must admit...”

“I'm rather disappointed.”

Lei Nu and the other Lords were furious.

Never had they expected such humiliation.

Before the victims could step forward...

To argue...

Or retaliate...

Jia Xu dispelled Eternal Night Curtain.

The aura of the Human Territory's entire force...

Was instantly revealed without the slightest concealment.

A terrifying pressure...

Powerful enough to make one's heart tremble...

Swept across the entire Teleportation Hall.

Every citizen of the Land of the Stars froze.

Silence instantly descended.

“What's happening?”

“What an overwhelming aura!”

“How could a newcomer Lord possess such strength?!”

“Could this be someone secretly cultivated by a major family or great faction?!”

“What?!”

“Look!”

“They're Humans!”

“For a Human Lord to reach Tier 3 is already one in a hundred!”

“Yet this is a newly graduated Lord!”

“Impossible!”

“This is absolutely impossible!”

“...”

Even Xuan Qingfeng...

Was completely stunned.

Hang Yu's strength...

Had reached at least the peak of Tier 3.

As for the generals accompanying him...

Every one of them was Level 30.

Without exception...

They had all reached at least the Overlord rank.

This was simply absurd!

How long had it been?!

If Xuan Qingfeng was already dumbfounded...

Then Lei Yan...

Shu Qianmu...

And the other Mentors...

Were even more so.

Never before had they witnessed a Human Lord developing at such an unbelievable speed.

It felt as though they had once again been slapped across the face.

Among Humanity's Four Hero Units...

There was one whom most people could not see through at all.

Of the remaining three...

Two had reached the Overlord rank.

Even the weakest...

Was still a top-tier Commander.

The remaining ten native followers...

Were all Abyss Commanders.

As for the other eighty-five Human Vassal soldiers...

Every single one possessed Tier 3 cultivation.

The strongest among them...

Already possessed Commander-level combat power.

Could a Human Lord truly cultivate a force like this?

Simply deploying such an army...

Would already place him among the very strongest of all these newcomer Lords!

How much Essence...

And how many resources...

Had been invested into this force?!

Seeing everyone's reactions...

The Players burst into laughter.

“Hahaha!”

“This feels amazing!”

“You looked down on us before!”

“So what do you think now?!”

“Now you finally know how awesome we are!”

“...”

Watching everyone's reactions...

Hang Yu was extremely satisfied.

By nature...

He disliked attracting unnecessary attention.

The reason he acted this way now...

Was for two purposes.

The first...

Was naturally to establish his authority.

Since he had already chosen to participate...

There was no point hiding anything.

He would simply crush everyone through sheer strength.

More importantly...

While demonstrating the territory's formidable strength and foundation...

This also shifted everyone's attention...

Toward the native experts of the plane led by Jia Xu.

Hang Yu himself was powerful.

His territory also developed at astonishing speed.

There had to be an explanation.

Hang Yu and his territory possessed far too many secrets.

The existence of Jia Xu...

And the other Three Kingdoms natives...

Would, for a very long time to come...

Provide the perfect explanation for the territory's explosive growth and overwhelming rise.

“This is my Lord Mentor, Xuan Qingfeng.”

Hang Yu introduced his mentor to his subordinates.

He then introduced his subordinates to Xuan Qingfeng.

“These are the subordinates I recruited within the Abyss.”

“Jia Xu.”

“Wen Ping.”

“Zhou Cang.”

“Zhang Zhongjing.”

“So they are native experts from the Abyss!”

Xuan Qingfeng could no longer suppress the delight on his face.

“Good!”

“Excellent!”

“Hang Yu!”

“You've exceeded all of my expectations!”

“I never imagined...”

“You were actually a Lord following the Kingly Path!”

“No wonder you've achieved results far beyond what Principal Long and I ever expected!”

The so-called Kingly Path...

Referred to the Kingly-style Lord.

Hang Yu had brought back fourteen powerful natives.

Among them...

The four strongest had already been contracted through the Starsea Brand...

As Hero Units of the territory.

At least three of those four...

Were Overlord-level existences.

Especially Jia Xu!

Judging from his performance just now...

His strength was simply unbelievably terrifying.

“So that's how it is!”

“So that's the reason!”

“No wonder this Human Lord is so overwhelmingly powerful!”

“So he's backed by the native powers of the Abyss!”

“...”

Mentor Lei...

Mentor Shu...

And everyone else...

All wore expressions of sudden realization.

Every mystery finally seemed to have a perfectly reasonable explanation.

Judging from the current situation...

The primary reason Hang Yu had established himself so firmly within the Abyss...

Was because Humans with extraordinary destiny happened to exist in his Abyss Plane.

Furthermore...

He had obtained the assistance of a supreme native powerhouse like Jia Xu.

“With so many incredibly powerful natives supporting him...”

“Successfully establishing a foothold in the Abyss...”

“Rapidly developing...”

“And cultivating an elite Vassal army...”

“Doesn't seem so strange anymore.”

“If only I could recruit natives that powerful too!”

“What kind of absurd luck is this?!”

“Heh.”

“Luck?”

“This Lord clearly excels at the Kingly Path.”

“The ability to recruit outstanding subordinates is itself part of his strength.”

“Exactly!”

“Otherwise...”

“Why can't the rest of us recruit natives this powerful...”

“And have them willingly sign Hero Contracts?”

“This is interesting.”

“It looks like Humanity...”

“This once obscure little race...”

“Is about to produce an extraordinary Kingly Lord.”

“I never imagined...”

“That in this day and age...”

“There would still be someone following the difficult and unrewarding Kingly Path.”

“And he's even a weak Human!”

“How exactly did he manage it?”

“It truly is remarkable!”

“...”

Without question...

After today's appearance...

Hang Yu would certainly become famous throughout Sacred Azure City!