Entering the shop, Lein nodded lightly. His gaze swept across the entire room. Everything seemed well-organized and tidy. On the right, there was a long glass showcase displaying various essential items for cultivators, ranging from herbs, combat gear, to runes and other cultivation tools. On the left, several sturdy shelves stood, filled with items neatly categorized by type.
Behind the main counter, a young elder, the shop's manager, stood on alert. He observed Lein nervously but found no signs of displeasure on the man's face. After taking a deep breath, he seemed more composed.
"Well… the design of this shop is slightly different from the alliance shops in the Divine Sky Realm, but most of the items sold here are the same," Bagus commented while glancing around. His tone was flat, but there was a hint of admiration in it.
Laras nodded, agreeing with Bagus' statement. Even the aura of this shop resembled the shops in more advanced worlds. Anyone could feel that this place did not belong to the Guandu Realm.
"Yes… everything is running well," Lein said, offering praise once more. He stood tall, his gaze fixed on the stairs at the back of the room, but he didn't proceed further. Instead, he turned around and looked at everyone in the room.
"Well… is everything ready?" he asked in a casual tone, yet it carried an undeniable authority.
The people exchanged confused glances, not fully understanding Lein's intention. Even so, the young elder quickly took charge. He checked each staff member nearby to ensure everyone was present, then replied firmly, "Yes, Sir."
Lein nodded lightly. "Alright."
As soon as the words left his lips, the surroundings suddenly shifted. The room's atmosphere began to fade, like wet paint washing away, slowly disappearing. In an instant, the scene around them transformed into a vast plain atop a hill. The cold mountain breeze brushed against their skin, carrying the fresh scent of grass.
They now stood on a flat field, surrounded by thousands of people. Not just a few, but about 200,000 people had gathered there, forming an enormous yet orderly crowd. Lein stood calmly, while the others gaped in shock at the sudden change.
Laras and Bagus exchanged glances, then looked around in awe. It was their first time being in such a place. Laras swallowed hard, trying to make sense of the situation.
"Where is this? Is this part of his new power?" she murmured softly, her eyes fixed on Lein. There was a mix of admiration and fear in her gaze. Thoughts about how powerful Lein truly was swirled in her mind. She could only wonder, How deep is this man's strength?
Of course, the fear of the unknown crept into Laras' thoughts. She felt fortunate to be on Lein's side and not among the traitors of the Divine Sky Realm. Her memory flashed back to the time of the cosmos unification, where many Earthlings abandoned the Divine Sky Realm and chose to betray it. Laras could only imagine what Lein would do to those who betrayed—her mind briefly haunted by horrifying possibilities.
"Wow… who are all these people?" Bagus asked in an amazed tone, his voice barely a whisper. He scanned the crowd intently. In his observation, there were about 80 individuals with power levels comparable to his. They were all grandmasters, something rarely found in one place at the same time.
Much like Laras and Bagus' astonishment, the people around them who had previously been sitting casually and chatting now stood up. Their attention was fixed on Lein, and a respectful gaze shone in their eyes. As if following an invisible command, they slightly bowed their heads and said in unison, "Greetings to the Lord."
The atmosphere turned solemn. The words of respect echoed across the vast plain, spoken simultaneously by hundreds of thousands of people. In those two seconds of profound silence, anyone hearing it would surely feel chills run down their spine.
Lein raised his hand in a gentle yet commanding gesture. Without needing to say a word, the signal was enough to make the crowd sit down again.
"Welcome to Mount Peace," Lein said. His voice wasn't loud, yet it resonated, reaching the ears of everyone present. He spoke calmly, but his strength seemed to fill the air around them.
"For the staff members, please continue your duties as usual," he said casually but clearly. Lein's gaze occasionally shifted to the seed shop staff, who now looked at him with deep respect, as if they were gazing at a deity.
Lein had deliberately brought everyone to this place to demonstrate the immense power behind the seed shop. He wanted to inspire the staff, ensuring they understood the importance of the tasks they carried out. All of this was part of his plan to build a solid foundation. Soon, he would begin interacting with the outside world. And for that, he needed an approach aligned with how the outside realm operated.
Hearing Lein speak directly to them, the admiration in the staff's eyes deepened. They then sat back down on their chairs, not daring to look away from Lein. They were fully aware that moments —standing face-to-face with someone as powerful as Lein—would not happen every day.
"Next, for the elders and overseers, gather around," Lein said in a firm voice, gesturing toward a higher plateau.
A thousand empty chairs suddenly appeared, neatly arranged atop the mountain's peak. "We will begin the meeting up there," he continued, then turned to the small group that had accompanied him. "Let's go," he said briefly, signaling them to follow.
Without much conversation, Laras, Bagus, the young elder, and two other overseers quickly moved to follow Lein toward the higher mountain peak.
Meanwhile, Lady Fatmawati's personal staff were left behind with twenty other seed shop staff. They walked briskly, joining the other seed shop workers who had arrived earlier in the area.
Amid the crowd, Fang Chen appeared frozen. His gaze was locked onto something only he could see, while his breath hitched. "Giaaaa!" he screamed internally, a mix of disbelief and excitement surging within him.
A glowing blue panel appeared before him:
[ Legendary Quest: Exploration of the Sacred Land ]
[ You have entered the Sacred Land. Please explore the surrounding environment to find treasures. ]
[ Bonus rewards for collecting treasures of epic chest level or higher. ]