Chapter 1688 Many Admirers
Sun Hao was stunned for a moment.
Gerlane’s eyes lit up brightly. She exclaimed loudly, "Xiaoshan! They actually admire my great reputation, right? Has my fame already spread to the Half-Dead Frost Dragon Realm?"
The warrior ahead remained half-kneeling on the small hill. Behind him, no less than one hundred relatively robust Dwarf warriors mimicked his posture. They gripped their war bows, faces slightly tense as they knelt, awaiting Sun Hao and Gerlane’s response.
Thoughts stirred within Sun Hao. Beneath his brow, the First-grade Purple-Gold Belt emitted a faint purple glow. The very reason Sun Hao and Gerlane could understand the Dwarf warrior's dialect was the effect of this belt.
Clearly, the true object of these native warriors' admiration was likely the First-grade Purple-Gold Belt itself.
This was Sun Hao’s first Mirror Descent, his first encounter with such a situation. His understanding of the First-grade Purple-Gold Belt’s functions was fragmented. Consequently, he genuinely didn't know how to deal with these admirers.
But Gerlane, perched on his back, was far simpler and more direct than Sun Hao.
From childhood to now, this was her first time being admired. An unparalleled sense of glory filled her heart, and her vanity received immense satisfaction. In her eyes, these Dwarf warriors who recognized her greatness were very pleasing. Besides, how could one not accept one’s first batch of admirers?
Almost without hesitation, Gerlane, leaning on Sun Hao’s shoulder, declared loudly, "Welcome! Welcome to join Gerlane's ranks..."
Sun Hao noticed that as Gerlane voiced this welcome, the First-grade Purple-Gold Belt on his forehead automatically displayed a group of tiny, ant-like names. These names aligned themselves beneath the Knight contract he and Gerlane shared, appearing as if they had genuinely become warriors belonging to both him and Gerlane.
The native warriors opposite seemed to instantly perceive this miraculous change. One hundred warriors—specifically eighty-three—simultaneously raised their longbows. Kneeling on one knee, they cheered, "Luluni pays respects to these two great lords..."
Behind Luluni, the warriors knelt deeply on one knee and boomed, "We pay respects to these two great lords."
Gerlane beamed, her smile stretching wide. She cried out loudly, "Rise! Everyone rise! No need for formalities, no formalities! From now on, we are comrades-in-arms. No need for such politeness."
Luluni straightened up. "Thank you, great lords."
It was as if he understood Sun Hao and Gerlane’s objective. After leading the Dwarves to join their group, the warriors automatically dispersed. They swiftly fanned out ahead of the two, acting like Scouts clearing the way. Only Luluni remained by Sun Hao and Gerlane’s side.
Gerlane, bubbling with keen interest, chatted animatedly with Luluni, inquiring about the specifics of the Half-Dead Frost Dragon Realm.
She was purely a curious child, overjoyed at having found a seemingly trustworthy warrior confidant she could interact with. She fired off random questions in all directions.
Sun Hao, however, slowly began contemplating the nature of this situation.
Undoubtedly, the key lay with his First-grade Purple-Gold Belt. The willingness of Luluni and his kind to join their ranks absolutely signified some crucial benefit for them, though Sun Hao hadn't yet pinpointed what that benefit was.
Furthermore, Sun Hao realized Luluni's actual cultivation wasn't weak at all. As an archer from a Lower Realm, he possessed cultivation at the early Tribulation Transcendence Stage, far surpassing the Early Stage of Divine Transformation Sun Hao had anticipated.
The warriors accompanying Luluni were also formidable, all advanced archers around the Divine Transformation Stage.
If such combat strength were placed on the Tianling Continent, wouldn't they dominate it outright? Recalling carefully, Sun Hao discerned the reason for such prowess. Witch Clan records stated that Lower Realms under the Middle Void fell into three categories.
The first were Ascension Realms: genuine Lower Realms that provided reserve Cultivators for the powerful Middle Void Races. Cultivators in such realms were usually suppressed; similar to the Tianling Continent, it was difficult to exceed the Divine Transformation Stage.
Once Mirror Reflection occurred in these Ascension Realms, the Cultivator's Mirror Image strength would also be capped below the Divine Transformation level.
The second were Undead Realms: realms one could enter, but where danger was unknown, outcomes were unpredictable, and which had fallen under the rule of the Undead Race. Sun Hao found it most peculiar: concerning the Undead Race in the Void Realm, he recalled that within the Tianling Continent, the Ghost Clan could also Cultivate and was still considered part of the Human Clan. Yet, in the Void Realm, this situation was completely different.
Within the Void Realm, the Undead Race seemed utterly opposed to the Ten Thousand Races. Realms conquered by the Undead Race in the Middle Void's lower domains underwent complete transformations. In such Lower Realms, Laws crumbled, releasing restrictions on Cultivator strength. Many powerful Undead Warriors would emerge, and Mirror Descent into them became considerably difficult. If a Cultivator descended physically into an Undead Lower Realm, genuine peril of death existed.
The third type of Lower Realm lay between the Undead and Ascension Realms, similar to this current Half-Dead Frost Dragon Realm they had entered.
These Lower Realms suffered the impact of Undead forces, but their native Races progressed rapidly. They defended territory, gained capability to battle the Undead Race, resulting in a stalemate war. In such realms, both Undead forces and the Mirror Images of the Witch Clan descendents would face certain restrictions. Yet compared to Ascension Realms, these limitations were far less stringent.
The Half-Dead Frost Dragon Realm fit this description.
Luluni possessing Tribulation Transcendence Stage cultivation indicated this realm's power level wasn't significantly weaker than that of the Lower Void.
After accepting Luluni and these Dwarf archers, the great plains offered no resistance. The party pushed forward relentlessly, encountering zero interception.The Dwarf warriors who had previously lurked nearby disappeared.
After several days and nights of furious travel without rest, the group charged into the highlands.
They hadn't run far when the forward archers retreated. Luluni spoke softly, "Great lords, ahead lies the territory of the Sprite Clan. Should we fight our way through?"
Gerlane looked at Sun Hao.
Sun Hao thought briefly, then smiled. "Luluni, have the brothers follow behind us. Do not initiate combat casually. We’ll decide our course of action based on the situation."
Luluni nodded assent. A sharp whistle from his lips signalled the forward warriors to retreat swiftly. They formed a fan-shaped defensive perimeter behind the two, maintaining vigilant guard.
Sun Hao smiled at Gerlane. "Little Lan, let’s proceed. Perhaps the Sprite Clan will also admire your great reputation."
Gerlane’s little face flushed with excitement, her eyes shining. "Really?! Let’s try it! Luluni, absolutely no acting rashly! Injuring potential allies would be terrible..."
After walking for several hours, a new race of warriors appeared around Sun Hao amidst the highlands. Similar in stature to Dwarves, they wore leafy green attire, held small walking-stick-like vine canes, and sported large hats of vibrant grass-green. These peculiar warriors hesitated, wary of approaching, yet did not attack Sun Hao.
After traveling roughly a full day, a group of Sprite warriors emerged ahead. The leading Sprite placed its large hat over its chest and bowed slightly. Chattering in its tongue, it declared loudly, "Respected lords! The Hill Sprite Clan admires your great reputation and wishes to join your ranks. May we be accepted?"
Gerlane excitedly clapped her hands on Sun Hao’s back, whooping and cheering. "More admirers! More admirers! I never imagined Little Lan's fame would be so resounding, echoing throughout the Half-Dead Frost Dragon Realm! Welcome! Welcome into my ranks! The Sacred Witch Lan'er Battle Team..."
The Sacred Witch Lan'er Battle Team truly began to expand and strengthen continuously within the Half-Dead Frost Dragon Realm.
After recruiting seventy-six Sprite Mages, they hadn't journeyed far before Lan'er was overwhelmed with joy yet again by more admiration. A group of Satyrs brandishing their hooves approached, expressing admiration and requesting to join.
...
As they progressed, admirers came constantly. In no time at all, Little Lan’s Sacred Witch Lan’er Battle Team had swelled to over a thousand members. These warriors held substantial strength, at least equivalent to Mid-level Warriors of the Nascent Soul Stage and above.
Lan'er beamed from ear to ear, accepting them all without a second thought. She spoke to Sun Hao with evident pride, "Mother told me the Lower Realms were dangerous, said their natives were unreasonable. But Xiaoshan, look how wrong mother was! Every step of my journey brings admirers. Without lifting a finger, I've traveled so far here in the Lower Realm, living ever so comfortably."