Chapter 132: The Inner Domain Upper-Level Assembly Point

Chapter 132: The Inner Domain Upper Assembly Point

Much like the "Mining Sister," Li Hongshen began transferring his assets three years in advance. He handed over his industrial and supply chains to Li Fuqiang, along with all the relevant commercial channels.

After a series of handovers and transfers, Li Hongshen formally severed all his old ties. Once everything was properly arranged, he hosted a banquet to bid farewell to his friends. The next day, he steered his floating island away from the assembly point, ceasing to suppress it and allowing it to ascend naturally.

Soon, the assembly point below vanished from view. As Li Hongshen issued orders, the Hong City army moved into their designated combat positions, remaining on high alert against potential attacks from flocks of ferocious birds.

However, Li Hongshen’s precautions quickly proved unnecessary. Once the floating island climbed beyond an altitude of ten thousand meters, he felt as if he had arrived in a different realm; the laws of energy manifested before his eyes with newfound clarity.

Furthermore, the energy in this airspace was much thinner, yet the energy core within his territory became increasingly active. The energy rules within his domain began to pulse like a heartbeat, spontaneously absorbing the rules of this new airspace.

This was a novel experience for Li Hongshen. Although he had acquired many energy laws from his system—making his own law thick, long, and powerful—it was usually quite sluggish. It would only move when Li Hongshen assisted it, or for a brief moment if he fed it source points. Now, Li Hongshen wore the smile of a proud father: as a mature energy law, it had finally learned to move on its own.

Beyond this, Li Hongshen sensed that his territory was gathering source points much faster here. This realization explained why those senior students rarely brought their territories down, and why Li Fugui always arrived via an aerial mount rather than docking his entire territory. Every second spent here allowed one’s energy laws to grow and the territory to accumulate source points for self-improvement.

This was the brilliant strategy of the education authorities—dangling these obvious benefits before the eyes of student lords. It was no wonder they weren't worried about high-ranking lords suppressing the lower tiers; they had a firm grasp on the hearts of every lord. No matter how much profit a lord made in the lower tiers, it couldn't compare to the rapid growth afforded by the upper airspace. Ultimately, every lord knew the Endless Wilderness was merely a foundation for their growth; no amount of material wealth outweighed personal development.

As the floating island rose past ten thousand meters, Li Hongshen spotted a new assembly point. It was significantly smaller than the previous one, suggesting a smaller population. As he approached, a griffin knight flew out; Li Hongshen knew this was a soldier from the Little King’s faction, likely sent to guide him.

These griffins were not native to the Endless Wilderness but had been introduced by powerful figures later on. They existed only in small numbers within the inner domain and were top-tier mounts for an air force; even the Storm Eagles were inferior to them. However, Storm Eagles excelled in speed, endurance, and load-bearing, and were much easier to breed.

After guiding the griffin knight into Hong City, Li Hongshen followed the navigator to slowly approach the upper assembly point, eventually docking alongside the Mining Sister’s Jingji City.

With a conflicted heart, Li Hongshen greeted the Mining Sister and connected the bridge that had previously linked him to his senior brother directly to her floating island. He then went to the center of the assembly point to re-register his information and visited the senior brothers and sisters he already knew. He set up a new exhibition booth at the assembly point and signed trade contracts with the Mining Sister and other acquaintances.

That evening, he organized another banquet in Hong City. Through introductions from Li Fugui, the Little King, and others, he met more senior students and formally declared his entry into the assembly point.

After the banquet, once he had seen his guests off, Li Hongshen returned to his City Lord’s mansion. In the conference room sat Li Fugui and the Little King. Li Hongshen had specifically asked them to stay for advice and guidance.

"My two esteemed masters, please, enlighten me. Teach me what I should be doing. Also, I haven't even figured out the Lord University application process yet."

Li Fugui glanced at the Little King and gestured toward him. "Brother Hao, you're the leader, you go first."

"What leader? I just serve our members. If I were truly the leader, would this guy still be here? Shouldn't you be paying a formal visit with generous gifts before asking questions? Look at this guy; does he show any respect for his leader?"

Li Hongshen immediately retorted, "Leader, that’s going too far! You’ve eaten and drank your fill, taken my gifts, and now you’re acting like you don't know me? We can't have that."

Li Fugui nodded from the side. "Leader, he’s right. That’s not the way to treat your brothers; it’ll break our hearts."

"I give up on you two. So, one of you is the brother-in-law and the other is the brother-in-law-to-be, and you’re teaming up to bully an outsider? Do you believe me when I say the leader will make things difficult for you?"

"We believe you, we believe you! Leader, please, just hurry up and speak. It’s getting late. Think of the one waiting at home—finish quickly so you can get back to your 'duties.' If you keep stalling like this, I fear you’re just trying to shirk your responsibilities. Your wife won't be happy about that."

"Who says I’m shirking responsibilities? Who says I’m stalling? Am I that kind of person in your eyes? Besides, I am the head of the household; she listens to me regardless."

"Yes, yes, yes. Great one, can you speak now?"

"Fine, fine. Young people today are just too impatient. Sigh, don't you know that haste makes waste?"

Hearing Brother Hao’s complaints, Li Fugui chuckled. Clearly, he had experienced this scenario more than once. Li Hongshen, however, felt the veins on his forehead bulging.

*Hey, this guy is barely two years older than me! Why are young people today so long-winded? Why is someone under twenty acting like a weary old man?*

Brother Hao remained unfazed, his expression indifferent as if the wind were blowing past him. Once he felt he had teased enough, he shifted his casual posture, straightened his expression, and asked Li Hongshen, "Tell me, which university are you aiming for? Have you looked into it specifically?"