Chapter 1 A Fragment of the Staff

Nie Yan rode his flying mount, checking the three items in his backpack.

The first was a map woven from brocade, which, when unfolded, depicted the entire topography of the Abernathy Grassland, with mountains, rivers, lakes, and grasslands all marked. A large area in the center, circled with golden patterns, represented the extent of his territory.

After surveying the Abernathy Grassland, he finally confirmed the location of the borderlines.

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

Both of these items were bound to him. With these two items, he could be considered the true lord of this place.

As for the third item, Nie Yan took it out. It was a prismatic crystal shard, radiating a shimmering green light. The front end was cone-shaped, like a sharp dagger. The moment Nie Yan took it out, it emitted a dazzling green light, and a powerful, unknown force rushed towards him.

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

Everyone's attention was drawn to the crystal shard.

"A fragment of the Staff of Jobia," Nie Yan said in surprise, after checking its attributes.

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

"Yeah, shouldn't something like that be in the hands of Emperor Jobia? He's not dead. Something like a staff usually doesn't shatter unless he dies."

Hearing their discussion, Nie Yan raised his eyebrows. What did this crystal shard represent? It was too early to make wild guesses. He put the crystal shard away.

Nie Yan and the others discovered a very large tribe, with thousands of white tents stretching endlessly across the grassland. Many people moved about within, and outside, herdsmen grazed flocks of cattle and sheep wandering across the grassland.

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

They slowly descended in the clearing in the center of the tribe. The six large flying mounts made the empty square suddenly crowded.

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

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

"This is the territory of the Kavanahs tribe. I am Sample, the chief of the Kavanahs. Strangers, please show your identity, or the Kavanahs tribe will regard you as enemies," the middle-aged man shouted loudly.

The atmosphere in the square suddenly became tense.

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

Although this area was the border area between the Greenland Empire and the Saturn Empire, many players still entered this area. They had established good relations with the tribes of the Abernathy Grassland, completing quests, leveling up, selling loot, and so on. However, everyone who entered here had to be recognized by the local tribes.

"Respected Chief Sample, I am from Carol City in the Greenland Empire. This is the contract certificate jointly granted by the Greenland Empire and the Saturn Empire." Nie Yan took out the Lord's Contract.

The middle-aged man named Sample showed a look of doubt. He took the Lord's Contract from Nie Yan, checked it, and returned it to Nie Yan. Then, he put his right hand on his chest, bowed, and said, "Respected Great Lord, Mr. Nie Yan, welcome to Kavanahs."

Seeing Sample bow to Nie Yan, the guards holding bows and arrows immediately lowered their bows and bowed to Nie Yan, just like Sample.

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

Nie Yan and Brilliant Knife Light looked at each other. As expected, the Lord's Contract 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 just a deterrent. If he didn't build his own army, even if Angel Corps didn't take action within the three-month protection period, these tribes would shake Nie Yan's ruling position.

"Respected Lord, please follow me. The Kavanahs will use the best wine and the most beautiful women to entertain the most honored guest," Sample said, waving his hand. The guards holding bows and arrows next to him stepped aside, making way.

Nie Yan glanced at Sample. He didn't know why, but he felt a trace of unfriendliness from Sample's expression. After thinking about it, he understood that his arrival would compete with the tribes in this territory for control of the land. It would be difficult to gain their support. It seemed that being the lord of a piece of land was not that simple.

Hearing the word "women," Lusting Colors of Youth's eyes lit up. He asked, "The most beautiful women this big guy is talking about wouldn't be those stunning NPC beauties, right?" It had to be said that the NPC beauties simulated by Faith with data were very charming and made people drool. However, under normal circumstances, players didn't dare to have any delusions about NPC beauties. If they were caught by the guards, it would be miserable.

"Don't even think about it. Take a look at the women walking around in this tribe. They all look like water buffaloes. Their beauties probably aren't much better," Water Color Smoker poured a bucket of cold water on Lusting Colors of Youth without mercy.

Brilliant Knife Light looked at Nie Yan and whispered, "I don't know why, but I feel like this Chief Sample isn't very friendly to us."

"I feel the same way. Let's keep watching," Nie Yan said. Even if Chief Sample 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 Sample, passing through the uneven road between the tents, and walked towards a huge golden tent in the distance.

The residents here were not rich, which could be seen from their clothes. When the residents saw Chief Sample, they all lay prone on the ground on both sides, trembling and not daring to move.

Looking at this scene, Nie Yan was lost in thought.

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

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

"I am not guilty." The young man named Yalop tried to break free from the ropes, but to no avail.

"You are not guilty? Your biggest mistake is having a beautiful wife. She is too enchanting."

The guards laughed mockingly.

When they saw Sample approaching, they immediately fell silent and bowed: "Respected Chief Sample, Yalop has committed theft. We are escorting him to the execution ground."

Sample's eyes were like those of a falcon, staring at Yalop's face. After a long while, he said, "Although you are the most powerful warrior of Kavanahs, I am not willing to put you to death. However, everyone must bear responsibility for the crimes they have committed. Execution by sky burial in half an hour."

Nie Yan and the young man named Yalop looked at each other. Yalop's eyes were filled with an unreadable hatred and arrogance.

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

In the Greenland Empire, people were executed every day. It wasn't the first time Nie Yan had encountered such a thing.

As he passed by Yalop, Nie Yan felt a heavy pressure coming towards him. This Yalop was definitely a strong man.

"Respected Chief Sample, what crime did this person commit?" Nie Yan asked.

"He committed theft, stealing things from several households." Sample looked at Nie Yan, his eyes containing an obscure and sinister look.

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

"Just theft wouldn't warrant the death penalty, but he is a slave. In Kavanahs, if a slave commits theft, he will be subject to capital punishment. Because he was previously a warrior who defeated the Krillians, he is granted a sky burial," Sample said indifferently.

Water Color Smoker, Brilliant Knife Light, and others were shocked. This Sample was definitely a ruthless guy, sentencing a person to death and saying it so matter-of-factly, as if he was giving a gift.

"Respected Chief Sample, as the lord of the Abernathy Grassland, do I have the right to pardon a person's death sentence?" Nie Yan looked at Sample, feeling a force of destiny since Yalop's appearance. He immediately reacted—save Yalop!

This matter was a mission within the grander scheme of him truly becoming the ruler of the Abernathy Grassland.

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

The title of lord still had some deterrent power.

"I want to pardon Yalop. As the lord of the Abernathy Grassland, I pardon him of his crime!" Nie Yan said. He understood that from the moment he saved Yalop, he and Sample would not be able to get along. Dealing with NPCs was really a tiring thing.

Before long, Yalop, who had just walked away, was brought back by the guards.