In just one day, Han Shuo's prestige within the Southern Border City had far surpassed that of Firenze, the Lord of the Southern Border.
For the past three years, Firenze had fiercely defended the Southern Border City with the Howling Legion, the most powerful legion in the empire. But against an army of several hundred thousand orcs, they had been steadily losing ground.
Han Shuo, however, had managed to destroy the few hundred thousand barbaric orc warriors in less than a day, as soon as he emerged from his five-year disappearance, all by his own power. Such an incredible feat was unprecedented in the history of the Lancelot Empire!
Many of the army-civilians of Southern Border City had witnessed the feat with their own eyes. Having been oppressed by the Orc warriors for so many years, the excitement of the people of Southern Border City as they watched the thousands of Orc warriors being destroyed was absolutely irresistible.
Unexpectedly, and without anyone orchestrating it, the people of Southern Border City flocked to Han Shuo to express their gratitude in every possible way.
Some offered home-cooked food, some offered armour and weapons that had been passed down through their families for generations, and some even offered their own daughters in the hope that Han Shuo would keep them as his servants. But most of them just cheered Han Shuo over and over again, shouting his name at the top of their lungs.
Han Shuo's deeds that day were bound to become legend among the people of Southern Border City!
With the threat of the Orc Empire neutralised, the people of Southern Border City gathered in the streets and cheered. They eagerly told the remarkable story of how Han Shuo had single-handedly wiped out hundreds of thousands of orc warriors. The atmosphere of fear that had enveloped Southern Border City had been dispelled by Han Shuo.
The people of South Border City began to treat Han Shuo as a god before he even acknowledged it. Many of the commoners who had suffered without spiritual support even carved Han Shuo's name on tablets, kneeling and bowing before it.
To kill several hundred thousand wild orcs in the short span of an hour with his powers alone, who else but a god could do that?
As it should be, Han Shuo received the most honourable treatment in South Border City. As he walked with Firenze to his mansion, the people he met along the way fell over each other in their eagerness to kneel and kowtow. They were more than willing to worship Han Shuo as their god.
Han Shuo did not feel much as he saw the people of the city flocking to kowtow to him. After pondering for a moment, he built a divine altar in the city. He then landed in the centre of the altar and unfolded his domain of divinity. A dignified, divine aura, as imposing as towering mountains, unfolded and gently spread out in all directions.
The people of South Border City, as well as the soldiers of the Howling Legion who had fallen into the Domain of Divinity, could not help but feel most obliged to pledge their allegiance to Han Shuo and wish to worship him forever.
"Offer your faith to this altar, and I will see to it that your southern border city is safe and sound!" the voice that Han Shuo had created with his divine energy echoed on and on in his Domain of Divinity. The voice carried an enchanting power that captured the soul, causing these people, who were already eager to worship Han Shuo, to become even more passionate.
After being shocked by the unparalleled power Han Shuo had just displayed, and now being further affected by his Domain of Divinity, the people of Southern Border City, whose passion had been raised to the ultimate, had absolutely no hesitation in respectfully offering their souls to the divine altar, becoming Han Shuo's devout worshippers.
After he had finished decorating his divine altar, Han Shuo made a few more rousing speeches. Satisfied that the ceremonies had been carried out according to his instructions, he left with Firenze and Fanny and returned to Firenze's mansion in South Border City.
"I have worked very hard for three years to keep South Border City safe. The most these people would do is pray for my safety. But you have been in this city for only one day and they have started to treat you like a god. Sigh..." Firenze lamented, shaking his head bitterly as they entered the mansion.
Fanny smiled sweetly and held Firenze's arm. She said in a soothing voice, "Father, if you could neutralise a few hundred thousand Orcs warriors alone, it wouldn't just be the Southern Border City, the entire Southern Border would treat you like a god."
Forcing a smile, Firenze glanced at Fanny and said, "Do you think everyone is as wild as that child? If I had that kind of strength, the Lancelot Empire would have become the hegemon in the Profound Continent long ago, instead of having to take defensive measures all this time."
"That's what I'm trying to say. We are ordinary people, but Bryan is talented. It is not surprising that he rises to high places and is adored. You don't have to feel bad about it!" Fanny chuckled as she comforted Firenze. Of course, a sense of pride rose from the depths of her heart.
"I'm going to stay in Southern Border City for three days. Father and daughter should catch up. Right, if there are any problems in Southern Border City or the southern border that you need me to solve, let me know and I'll take care of them for you." Han Shuo's Lowgod of Destruction avatar needed some time to digest the energy of destruction created by the deaths of all those orc warriors. Besides, Fanny and Firenze had not seen each other in ages, and they should be given some time to spend together.
After witnessing the terrifyingly magnificent feat, Firenze now showed much more reverence and restraint when talking to Han Shuo. Not only had he toned down his ruthlessly vulgar remarks, he even felt a little uneasy.
On the one hand, it was because Han Shuo's strength had completely overwhelmed Firenze. On the other hand, it was because of the noble and divine demeanour that Han Shuo naturally exuded after becoming a god. Under these two kinds of pressure, Firenze, who had not paid attention to any taboos all along, seemed to be a completely different person when facing Han Shuo.
"Alright. I'll make sure to arrange things and take advantage of this opportunity. If a problem arises that requires brute force to solve, I will definitely not be polite enough to ask for your help," Firenze laughed mischievously, "No matter how powerful you are, you are still my son-in-law!"
Han Shuo nodded with a smile and made no further reply. After leaving Fanny a few words, he entered the room Firenze had specially prepared for him to silently digest the energy of destruction created by the deaths of those orc warriors.
***Back at the place of extreme fire, outside the Valley of Fire.
Han Shuo's main body, which had been sitting cross-legged with its eyes closed on a fiery red boulder, suddenly opened its eyes. They glistened as he surveyed the bumpy ground directly in front of him.
Suddenly, a thick, heavy sound came from the depths of the earth. The valley, which had been quiet and still, suddenly began to tremble. The trenched ground began to shake with increasing force.
Suddenly, from the depths of the earth came the loud roar of a dragon. The trenches tore wider and wider as the ground trembled.
The body of the dark dragon Gilbert gradually appeared...
Another dragon roared. The ground continued to shake and rumble. As the earth trembled and the mountains shook, the sinuous figure of a dragon rose into the sky. It disappeared into the clouds in an instant.
"Ahahahah..." the dark dragon Gilbert howled with laughter. He could not contain the excitement in his heart after being reborn. He roamed the skies as much as he liked, screaming himself hoarse to release the excitement in his heart.
"Stop that noise. Come down here!" Han Shuo scolded as he watched the dark dragon Gilbert dart left and right across the sky.
"Coming!" Gilbert replied as he giggled. His huge dragon body shook and black light shone from it. His huge body gradually shrank in the black light and turned back into the familiar dark-skinned youth as he arrived and stopped right in front of Han Shuo.
"Master, I have returned, Gilbert has returned! Hahaha..." Gilbert danced with joy. He patted his new body all over and seemed very satisfied.
"You died here and were resurrected here. I finally fulfilled my promise to you!" Han Shuo smiled at Gilbert and asked, "How do you like your new body?"
"Good! Very good!" Gilbert replied immediately. He stretched his neck and twitched and kicked with his two legs before adding, "My body is full of energy. Although it's not quite the same as the original energy, it feels much more powerful!"
Han Shuo's consciousness took a tour and the corners of his mouth turned to reveal a satisfied smile. He nodded as he praised, "Not bad, you actually melted that little piece of divine essence. Very good. As long as you feel and understand it carefully, it will be no challenge for you to become a god!"
"Thank you Master, hahahaha, thank you Master!" After hearing Han Shuo's compliment, Gilbert couldn't help but laugh out loud with happiness. His voice spread far into the distance, causing many low-level magical creatures to retreat.
"This is what you deserve. Yes, your new body has some special abilities. I think you can already feel them. Take some time to understand some of these special abilities. It will be of great benefit to you in the future," Han Shuo said sternly.
"Don't worry, Master. Having experienced death once, I will treasure this second chance at life," Gilbert assured Han Shuo after wiping the smile off his face.
"Good. I believe you should know the importance of strength much better now," Han Shuo said as he nodded.
"Master, I want to go back and visit my grandfather," Gilbert suddenly said in a sad voice, "My father is dead and many of my fellow dark dragons have been lost. I want to see how they are now."
"Of course. And one more thing, see how the lizardmen are doing while you are in the underground world. Help them with any problems they might have," Han Shuo had once promised the Ancient Lizard King to look after the lizardmen. There might be changes in the underground world due to Adele's resurrection. This resurrected Gilbert possessed much more power than before. Perhaps there were things Gilbert could do to help the lizardmen in the underground world.
"Understood, Master. I will make a move," Gilbert had missed his fellow dark dragons. He was worried that the Shrine of Ice might have returned to causing trouble for the Dark Dragons during his absence. So he left in a hurry after telling Han Shuo.
"This guy is still as impatient as ever," Han Shuo couldn't help but laugh as he saw Gilbert scurrying away. However, after a short while, his face turned cold. He remembered the hatred that had etched itself into his bones and engraved itself into his heart as he gazed into the depths of the Dark Forest.
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