Chapter 1 The Abyssal Plains

Nie Yan checked the three items in his backpack while riding his flying mount.

The first was a map woven from brocade. Unfolding it revealed a complete topographical representation of the Abernathy Grasslands, marked with mountains, rivers, lakes, and prairies. A large area in the center was circled with gold纹, indicating the boundaries of his territory.

After surveying the Abernathy Grasslands, he finally confirmed the location of the border.

The second item was a Lord's Charter Certificate, proof of Nie Yan's status as lord.

Both items were soulbound to him. With these, he was the true lord of this place.

As for the third item, Nie Yan took it out. It was a prism-shaped crystal shard, emitting a soft, green light. The front end was tapered into a sharp cone, like a keen dagger. The moment Nie Yan brought it out, it released a dazzling green glow, and a powerful, unknown force surged forth.

"What is that?" Brilliant Knife asked, puzzled.

Everyone's attention was drawn to the crystal shard.

"A fragment of the Scepter of Jobia," Nie Yan said, astonished after checking its properties.

"Jobia, as in the emperor of the Grindy Empire? Why is it in your hands?"

"Yeah, shouldn't something like that be in Emperor Jobia's hands? He's not dead. A scepter like that usually doesn't shatter unless he dies."

Hearing their discussion, Nie Yan raised an eyebrow. What exactly did this crystal fragment signify? It was too early to speculate. He put the crystal fragment away.

Nie Yan and the others discovered a very large tribe. Thousands of white tents stretched endlessly across the prairie. Many people moved about within, and outside, herdsmen grazed flocks of cattle and sheep wandering the grasslands.

"Let's go down and take a look," Nie Yan said. This was the largest tribe they had seen since entering the Abernathy Grasslands.

They slowly descended into the clearing in the center of the tribe. Six large flying mounts made the empty square feel crowded.

Immediately, some guards wearing simple leather armor and carrying bows and arrows rushed up and surrounded Nie Yan and the others.

A tall middle-aged man with prominent muscles all over his body, extraordinarily robust, walked over. He held a huge longbow in his left hand and a short sword in his right, looking at Nie Yan and the others.

"This is the territory of the Kavanah tribe. I am Samuel, the chief of Kavanah. Strangers, please show your identification, or the Kavanah tribe will consider you enemies," the middle-aged man shouted loudly.

The atmosphere in the square suddenly tensed up.

Some players in the distance pointed and whispered. Some of them recognized Nie Yan and were watching how the situation would develop.

Although this area was the border between the Grindy Empire and the Saturn Empire, many players had entered this area. They had established good relationships with the tribes of the Abernathy Grasslands, doing quests, grinding monsters, selling loot, and so on. However, everyone who entered here had to be recognized by the local tribe.

"Respected Chief Samuel, I come from Carol City of the Grindy Empire. This is a contract certificate granted by both the Grindy Empire and the Saturn Empire," Nie Yan said, taking out the Lord's Charter.

The middle-aged man named Samuel showed a puzzled expression. He took the Lord's Charter from Nie Yan's hand, inspected it, and returned it to Nie Yan. Then, he placed his right hand on his chest, bowed, and said, "Respected Lord Nie Yan, welcome to Kavanah."

Seeing Samuel bow to Nie Yan, the surrounding guards holding bows and arrows immediately lowered their weapons and bowed to Nie Yan as well, just like Samuel.

When Nie Yan appeared here, the players in the distance understood that everything here was about to change. The Abernathy Grasslands would change from a no-man's land on the border to a player territory. Some had already decided to leave, while others were prepared to stay and see what Nie Yan would turn this place into.

Nie Yan and Brilliant Knife exchanged glances. As expected, the Lord's Charter was effective.

However, each tribe here had its own rules of conduct. Nie Yan could not mobilize them at will. The position of lord was only a deterrent. Without establishing his own army, even if Angel Corps did not act within the three-month protection period, these tribes would shake Nie Yan's rule.

"Respected Lord, please follow me. Kavanah will treat the most distinguished guests with the best wine and the most beautiful women," Samuel said, waving his hand. The guards holding bows and arrows next to him stepped aside.

Nie Yan glanced at Samuel. For some reason, he felt a hint of unfriendliness in Samuel's expression. After thinking for a moment, he understood. His arrival meant competing with the tribes on this territory for control of the land. It would be difficult to gain their support. It seemed that being the lord of a territory was not that simple.

Hearing the word "women", Lusting Fingers' eyes lit up, and he asked, "The most beautiful women this big lump of a chief is talking about wouldn't be those stunning NPC beauties, would they?" It had to be said that the NPC beauties simulated by Faith with data were very charming, making people drool. However, under normal circumstances, players dared not have any fantasies about NPC beauties. If they were caught by the guards, it would be a disaster.

"Don't even think about it. Don't you see that the women walking around in this tribe look like water buffaloes? I bet their beauties aren't much better," Watery Rose ruthlessly poured cold water on Lusting Fingers.

Brilliant Knife looked at Nie Yan and said softly, "I feel like this Chief Samuel isn't very friendly to us."

"I feel the same way. Let's keep watching," Nie Yan said. Even if Chief Samuel was very unfriendly to them, he couldn't do anything to them. After all, Nie Yan was the lord of this land.

"Okay."

The group followed behind Chief Samuel, walking along the uneven road between the tents, heading towards a huge golden tent in the distance.

The residents here were not wealthy, as could be seen from their clothing. When the residents saw Chief Samuel, they all lay on the ground on both sides, trembling with fear.

Looking at this scene, Nie Yan was thoughtful.

They walked for a few minutes, and a group of more than a dozen people walked towards them. They were ten fully armed guards, escorting a young man who was bound with ropes. This young man was burly, wearing only a tattered pair of pants, exposing his upper body. His skin was dark, but his muscles were strong, covered with whip marks, a mixture of new and old wounds.

"Alop, you will soon experience how wonderful death is. Your body will be cut into pieces of flesh to feed the vultures flying in the sky," a guard said sharply, emitting a strange laugh.

"I am innocent," the young man named Alop wanted to break free from the ropes, but to no avail.

"You are innocent? Your biggest mistake is having a beautiful wife. She's too enchanting."

The guards laughed mockingly.

They saw Samuel approaching and immediately fell silent, bowing and saying, "Respected Chief Samuel, Alop has committed theft. We are escorting him to the execution ground."

Samuel's eyes were like those of a hawk, staring at Alop's face. After a long while, he said, "Although you are the most powerful warrior in Kavanah, I am unwilling to put you to death. However, everyone must bear the consequences of their crimes. Execute him in half an hour."

Nie Yan and the young man named Alop looked at each other. In Alop's eyes, there was a kind of incomprehensible hatred and unyieldingness.

Three scars on Alop's face almost ran through his entire cheek. There was a very clear brand on his left cheek, with the word "slave" written on it.

In the Grindy Empire, people were executed every day. It was not the first time Nie Yan had encountered such a thing.

When passing by Alop, Nie Yan felt a heavy pressure. This Alop was definitely a strong man.

"Respected Chief Samuel, may I ask what crime this person committed?" Nie Yan asked.

"He committed theft, stealing things from several families," Samuel said, looking at Nie Yan with an obscure and sinister look in his eyes.

"If it's just theft, it shouldn't warrant the death penalty, should it?" Nie Yan said.

"The death penalty is not warranted for theft alone, but he is a slave. In Kavanah, if a slave commits theft, he will be sentenced to death. Since he was a warrior before, having defeated the Creland people, he is granted a sky burial," Samuel said lightly.

Watery Rose, Brilliant Knife, and the others felt a jump in their hearts. This Samuel was definitely a ruthless character. He sentenced a person to death and spoke so matter-of-factly, as if giving them a gift.

"Respected Chief Samuel, as the lord of the Abernathy Grasslands, do I have the power to pardon a person's death sentence?" Nie Yan looked at Samuel. From the moment Alop appeared, he seemed to feel a force of destiny. He immediately reacted. Save Alop!

This matter was a mission element for him to truly become the ruler of the Abernathy Grasslands.

"Yes, without a doubt." Samuel stared at Nie Yan, his eyes flickering, and finally nodded.

The title of lord still had some deterrent power.

"I want to pardon Alop. As the lord of the Abernathy Grasslands, I forgive him of his crimes!" Nie Yan said. He understood that from the moment he saved Alop, he and Samuel could no longer get along. Wading through the NPCs was a tiring thing.

Before long, Alop, who had just been taken away, was brought back by the guards.