Chapter 123: Breaking Through [Please Subscribe]

Lu Sheng was a bit bewildered. "What are you all doing?"

Xiong Dabiao smiled and said, "Little brother, they all want to see your formidable strength. After all, if you can truly clear this entire stretch of high grass, you’d be a hero to all of us."

"That’s right! Please begin, my lord!"

Xiong Dabiao’s lips curled up; he couldn't wait to see how Lu Sheng would end up humiliated.

Lu Sheng looked at these guys, speechless. If he couldn't clear the path, wouldn't they just be here to watch him make a fool of himself? It was definitely Xiong Dabiao’s doing, but he was going to disappoint the old man. He couldn't understand why, with such an outstanding son, this old man was the way he was. Was he going through menopause?

"Fine, I'll show you my strength." Lu Sheng smirked and turned to summon his Flame Werewolves. He ordered them to fire off their fireballs.

The fireballs unleashed by the Fifth-Order peak Flame Werewolves were not to be underestimated. A fireball smashed into the high grass, incinerating a patch along its path, and after flying a certain distance, it exploded, the scattered flames burning the surrounding high grass to cinders. A single fireball cleared an area of about one hundred square meters, a level of power that satisfied Lu Sheng.

The energy within a Fifth-Order peak Flame Werewolf could sustain four such fireballs. Clearing a ten-kilometer stretch was quite simple. Of course, that was provided Lu Sheng’s "Infinite Resurrection" could instantly restore them to peak condition.

Seeing this, Xiong Zijie chimed in with a timely challenge: "Little brother, while the power of this one Flame Werewolf is indeed strong, how many such attacks can it unleash? I’m afraid it might not be enough."

Zhuo Lei nodded from the side. "Indeed, with only one, clearing the entire high grass field seems unlikely."

The onlookers also murmured, "Exactly. Attacks like that must consume a lot of energy. If it runs out of energy after a few shots, how long would that take?"

Lei Yan and the others remained silent, holding their breath. They believed Lu Sheng would create a miracle and slap these people in the face.

Lu Sheng waved his hand, looking indifferent. "What’s the rush? Who told you I only have one Flame Werewolf?"

At these words, someone finally realized Lu Sheng’s identity.

"White Horse Lu Sheng! The Monster Leader!"

"I know him! It’s rumored that Lu Sheng has countless monsters at his disposal! He abandoned thirty Flame Werewolves without a second thought before; he must have plenty more!"

"That’s right! I remember when He Fei first tried to capture him, he just threw away thirty Flame Werewolves!"

"This is great! Lord Lu Sheng will definitely have no problem clearing this high grass!"

Once Lu Sheng’s identity was revealed, everyone became excited. Many hadn't recognized him at first—after all, not everyone had seen him, and he didn't have his signature white horse or the White-Flame Blue-Scaled Bird with him.

Lei Yan and his companions were puzzled, noticing that everyone seemed to know Lord Lu Sheng and that he held quite a reputation. What was going on?

Lu Sheng didn't make them wait long. He first summoned ten Flame Werewolves. They stood a hundred meters apart, lined up, and began to advance toward the high grass. A width of one thousand meters was more than enough for everyone to pass through.

Xiong Dabiao snorted in annoyance and muttered, "Let’s see how long you can stay smug."

Xiong Zijie felt embarrassed hearing his father. What was wrong with him? Why was he picking a fight with Lu Sheng? In truth, Xiong Zijie could not understand the mind and emotions of someone of Xiong Dabiao’s age. At forty or fifty, with one foot in the grave, what mattered most was face. He could sacrifice his own, but he couldn't stand being humiliated by others. Especially since Lei Yan, a mere Second-Order, dared to question and negate him—it made him feel incredibly disgraced. As the saying goes, people fight for their pride; Xiong Dabiao was just stubborn, which was why he locked horns with Lu Sheng.

Someone kindly reminded Lu Sheng, "Lord Lu Sheng, wouldn't it be a waste to spread ten Flame Werewolves out like that? Won't you fail to clear the field if you do that?"

Lu Sheng shook his head. "It’s fine. For your safety, this one-thousand-meter width is necessary. Don't worry, I have plenty of Flame Werewolves."

Lu Sheng’s words stirred the crowd.

"Lord Lu Sheng is truly a saint! Regardless of whether he can clear it, I am willing to follow him from now on!"

Once that was said, the eyes of many wandering survivors lit up. They were currently helpless; entering other areas meant trespassing on someone else’s turf, where they might face oppression. If they acted alone, they would inevitably be bullied by local thugs. If they found a powerful backer, wouldn't they be safe from such bullying? It made sense. Everyone knew how strong Lu Sheng was—the six Sixth-Order monsters at Tian Tan Mountain were no joke. Even the most powerful force in the wilderness, the Wilderness Bandits, only had five leaders at the Sixth-Order. Lu Sheng had wiped them out single-handedly. Following him would be an honor.

"I am also willing to follow Lord Lu Sheng!"

"Me too!"

"Count me in!"

"Lord Lu Sheng, lead us to form a new faction!"

Lu Sheng was bewildered. What did he do? Why did they want to follow him? Form a faction... he didn't really want to. Protecting a settlement quietly and developing in peace was better. Forming a faction meant managing their food, housing, and endless troubles. He didn't like that; being alone was better.

"Stop, stop, stop!"

"I have no intention of forming a faction. However, the person standing right in front of you is the young master of the Hero’s Stronghold. You can ask him if he’s willing to take you in."

Xiong Zijie had treated him well, and if he needed more men, Lu Sheng didn't mind giving these people to him. Besides, Xiong Dabiao had given him nine hundred White Cloud Horses; this could be considered a return gift.

Xiong Zijie was stunned. How did this end up on him? Xiong Dabiao also fell silent. He was quiet because Lu Sheng’s actions were beyond his expectations. He knew Lu Sheng could sense his malice, yet he still treated them this way, which surprised him. For a moment, he wondered if he had done something wrong. But the thought of his lost face still made him feel sour. If Lu Sheng knew his thoughts, he would have just said, "I did it for your son’s sake, not yours."

The people on the scene didn't hesitate. They wanted to join a faction anyway, and it didn't matter who it was as long as they were protected. Still, some truly wanted to follow Lu Sheng and, seeing his refusal, didn't bother joining the Hero’s Stronghold.

Zhuo Lei watched from the side, feeling a bit jealous. The scene felt surreal yet logical. These people were at their most vulnerable, and joining a large collective was a great choice. It was an inevitable outcome; the first person to call out had been the spark.

Xiong Zijie asked his father for his opinion, and Xiong Dabiao could only nod with a dark face. They had intended to oppose the man, yet now they had to accept his favor. It made him uncomfortable.

Seeing that things had settled down, Lu Sheng was satisfied and continued his weeding mission. The Flame Werewolves pushed forward steadily; when they ran out of energy, he would recall them to the sub-dimensional space to "suicide" and summon ten fresh ones. Monsters hiding in the high grass were burned alive in droves, while others fled toward the unburned areas. Lu Sheng controlled the werewolves, pushing forward step by step.

Time ticked by, and after about an hour, Lu Sheng had carved a charred path through the entire high grass field.

During that hour, no one had left. They stood there watching the miracle unfold. The crowd behind went from initial anticipation to shock, and finally, excitement.

"It... it actually worked!"

"Incredible!"

They had truly witnessed a miracle! Lei Yan looked at Xiong Dabiao triumphantly. He didn't say anything mocking, just smiled, staring at him. This silent mockery made Xiong Dabiao feel even worse, as if his face were being ground into the dirt. He took a deep breath and let it out heavily. He knew he had been wrong to oppose Lu Sheng, and he recalled Zhang Tiandao’s words: this was a massive thigh to cling to. Was it too late to start now? Although he was stubborn, he was capable of changing his mind quickly. A real man knows when to bend.

He took the initiative: "Little brother, you were right. Lu Sheng could do it. I was abrupt; I shouldn't have said those things."

Lei Yan was surprised. He hadn't expected Xiong Dabiao to apologize, especially to a mere Second-Order like himself. "As long as you understand, Chief Xiong. I don't blame you for not knowing Lord Lu Sheng’s strength earlier."

Xiong Dabiao’s mouth twitched. Why did he keep sticking his face out to be slapped? Lei Yan wouldn't be polite; he had stayed quiet earlier only because he feared Xiong Dabiao might snap and slaughter him. Now that he saw the chief hadn't lost his mind and was still offering his face, he certainly wouldn't hold back.

After clearing the path, Lu Sheng recalled the Flame Werewolves and returned. "Why are you all still standing here? It’s getting dark; why don't you set up camp?"

"Right away, right away! But Lord Lu Sheng, are you really not planning to form a new faction?" Someone asked, unwilling to give up. In their eyes, following Lu Sheng meant a bright future. To be able to raise so many powerful monsters, he must have vast resources. Joining him might mean a share of the spoils.

"No, I have no such plans." Lu Sheng refused again.

"I see."

Lu Sheng’s answer disappointed those who were expectant, but they couldn't force the issue.

Back at the group, before Lu Sheng could speak, Xiong Dabiao stepped forward. "Little brother, you have real skill. I spoke wrongly before; I apologize."

"Chief Xiong, you’re too kind. It was just a misunderstanding of my strength; it’s natural to be skeptical." Lu Sheng gave him an out, not wanting to ruin the relationship.

"Hahaha!" Xiong Dabiao laughed loudly. "You’re a generous man! How about we drink my prized osmanthus wine tonight until we’re drunk?"

Lu Sheng’s eyes lit up. "There’s wine?" Since arriving in this world, he hadn't heard of such a thing and thought it didn't exist.

Xiong Dabiao smiled proudly. "Of course there is, but not for just anyone."

"Then I won't be polite." Lu Sheng wasn't exactly addicted, but he did miss it after a while.

Xiong Dabiao looked at Lei Yan. "How about you join us tonight, brother?"

Lei Yan’s eyes sparkled; this was his chance. But he couldn't decide for himself, so he looked at Lu Sheng. Lu Sheng understood that something must have happened that he wasn't aware of. "Go ahead, join us." He felt Lei Yan was a good man, and he could sense his loyalty.

Receiving approval, Lei Yan said, "Thank you, my lord!"

When Xiong Dabiao wasn't acting on impulse, he was quite shrewd. Inviting Lei Yan was a move to smooth things over. Just as his son had said, Lei Yan was so loyal to Lu Sheng that his status couldn't be too low.

"Good! Good! Let’s go then..."

Night fell in the wilderness, and numerous campfires were lit, illuminating the surroundings. A group of people sat around a large bonfire, drinking and chatting. Each had a small table; Lei Yan sat to Lu Sheng’s right, Xiong Dabiao to his left, followed by Zhang Tiandao, Zhang Haoran, and others. Basically, all the important figures were present. Zhuo Lei and Zhuo Feifan were there too.

Zhuo Lei handed a Fifth-Order spirit fruit to Lu Sheng. "Little brother, my son was ignorant before and caused offense. This is a small token of my sincerity; I hope you can overlook it."

Lu Sheng waved his hand. "Oh, there’s no need for that. That was so long ago, I’ve already forgotten."

Zhuo Lei didn't care; he shoved it toward Lu Sheng anyway, as if he wouldn't take no for an answer. Xiong Dabiao smoothed things over: "Just accept it. It’s Brother Zhuo’s sincerity."

Lu Sheng accepted it. It was just a Fifth-Order fruit; it didn't matter to him either way. Meat was roasted by servants, and wine and food were served simultaneously.

Xiong Dabiao laughed heartily: "Everyone, drink up! There’s plenty of wine!"

"Thank you for your hospitality, Chief Xiong!"

As time passed, the atmosphere grew more intense. After a while, everyone was a bit tipsy. The osmanthus wine had a real kick; even though they were all physically enhanced, they couldn't handle drinking it like water. After several pounds, the mood was high. Drinking was a fast way to build rapport, and soon they were calling each other brothers.

Xiong Dabiao began to speak freely. "Brother Lu... to be honest, a part of my behavior today was because of your subordinate."

Lu Sheng looked serious. "Oh? What happened? If my subordinate did something wrong, I apologize on his behalf."

Lei Yan’s heart jumped into his throat. What was this? Was he in trouble? But soon, he relaxed.

"No, no, no... your subordinate is excellent, very loyal. You wouldn't know, but I just thought you couldn't clear the grass, and I made a couple of snide comments. Your man couldn't stand it and insisted on arguing with me. Even when I threatened him, he didn't flinch..."

"Uh...!" Xiong Dabiao hiccuped from the wine. "Brother Lu, having such a loyal subordinate is rare. You should promote him well; don't let his talent go to waste."

Lu Sheng laughed. "So that’s it. He’s loyal, alright, just a bit too impulsive. With that temper and no matching strength, he’s bound to suffer. I should indeed promote him..." He hadn't expected this. He recalled Lei Yan’s past actions. He had done well and was indeed loyal; he deserved to be nurtured.

"Lei Yan, did you hear that? Your lord says he’s going to train you well. Remember that; don't let your lord go back on his word!" Xiong Dabiao glared at Lei Yan.

Lei Yan had never seen such a scene. "Everything is up to the Lord." He answered cautiously.

"Zijie, you should learn from Brother Lu. Look at him, so young and accomplished, with so many men..."

Xiong Zijie: ...I was sitting here quietly. How did this involve me?

The sky grew darker. In the distant, continuous mountain range, a behemoth was quietly observing the camp. It was a giant centipede, lifting its front half high, its rows of sharp legs underneath like blades. It was considering whether to kill everyone here. Killing "Outworlders" brought great benefits to invaders like them. Otherwise, why would they leave their own world to come to this "Outworld"?

However, it sensed a dangerous aura in the air, which was why it hesitated. If not for that, it would have attacked without a second thought. It was a Seventh-Order overlord; only its peers could threaten it.

Xiong Dabiao suddenly asked curiously: "Brother Lu, how is your own strength? Although I’ve seen many of your subordinates in action, I’ve never seen you fight yourself."

"My strength is just so-so. I won't make a fool of myself," Lu Sheng said, not wanting to show off, mostly for fear of scaring them.

Xiong Dabiao, emboldened by the wine, insisted: "Brother, that won't do. I must see your strength today, one way or another. Your monsters are so strong; I don't believe you aren't."

Xiong Zijie joined in: "Brother Lu, let us see!"

"I know you sensed the opportunity to break through to the Sixth-Order at noon today. You just need enough resources. I assume that with your resources, the breakthrough is a done deal."

Under the persuasion of the father and son, the others joined in.

"Fine, I’ll show you, but hold onto your chins—don't let them drop."

Since everyone was so enthusiastic, he wanted to see what his power form would look like. He hadn't had a chance to test it at Tian Tan Mountain, so this was an opportunity.

He stopped hesitating. He took out the White Flame Spear—a pure white body with a tuft of white fur behind the tip. As Lu Sheng channeled his power, white flames ignited on the spear out of thin air. He pointed and moved a bit closer to the mountain range.

"Brother Lu, no need to be so dramatic! Don't go too far, or I won't be able to see the power of your attack!" Xiong Dabiao shouted from the camp, thinking Lu Sheng had gone too far.

Lu Sheng smiled but didn't speak. He began to brew power within his body, staring straight ahead. This time, he wanted to test his raw strength—what kind of power could his full-force blow cause? Thanks to the Muscle Dog training for him every day, his base strength was already immense. Even without using his power form, his strength would be at the peak of the Sixth-Order.

And more importantly, he intended to test his latest power form!

Two hundred times the strength!