Floating Cloud Mountain was located over a hundred li from Jingzhou in the Song Kingdom of the Ten Thousand Lands Continent. Stretching for hundreds of li, the mountain was strategically positioned—easy to defend and hard to attack. Its proximity to Jingzhou also brought considerable trade, which had given rise to over a dozen bands of bandits and outlaws within Floating Cloud Mountain, most of whom lived quite comfortably.
Black Dragon Stronghold. The Assembly Hall.
"Big brother, I'm back." A tall, robust young man with a bold and masculine aura strode into the hall. His face was sharp and chiseled, strikingly handsome, yet carrying a somewhat incongruous, simple, and warm smile. Behind him followed several men, their spirits high.
"Second brother, how did it go?" A middle-aged man seated at the center of the hall's head table stood up, stepping forward eagerly.
"Haha, I didn't let you down, big brother. This time, we caught a big fish—all the supplies combined are worth over five hundred taels of silver," the robust young man said, laughing joyfully.
"Excellent! Second brother, you've done the Black Dragon Stronghold another great service!" The middle-aged man beamed with delight, showering him with praise.
"Haha, big brother, this is what I should do. If it weren't for you, where would I be?" the young man replied, his expression brimming with sincerity.
"Good, good—we brothers won't stand on ceremony. Spread the word: tonight, we feast and drink until we drop!" the middle-aged man declared with bold vigor.
"Yes, Chief!" "Long live the Chief!"
Cheers erupted, and soon, over half of the stronghold's two hundred-plus members sprang into action, eagerly preparing the banquet. For bandits and outlaws, such feasts were among their greatest pleasures.
Two hours later, as darkness fell, over a dozen tables were set up inside and outside the Assembly Hall, packed with people. Raucous laughter and shouts echoed throughout the stronghold.
Lin Sanlong, the chief of Black Dragon Stronghold, sat at the head table. He stood, raising a bowl of wine. Instantly, the noise inside and outside the hall died down as all eyes turned to him.
"Brothers, tonight we drink until we drop! I, Lin Sanlong, toast you all first. Come, drink!" His deep, resonant voice carried clearly to every ear in the hall, drawing looks of awe from many.
"Long live the Chief!" Shouts of agreement rose one after another as everyone downed their wine.
Lin Sanlong swept his gaze over the crowd, and seeing that all had finished, he set down his bowl and spoke again: "Good. Also, before the feast officially begins, I want to announce something." He paused, noting the complete silence, a flicker of satisfaction crossing his face. "Our second chief has once again rendered great service to the Black Dragon Stronghold. So, I've decided to reward him handsomely—two hundred taels of silver."
As his words fell, the hall seemed to grow even quieter. Eyes widened, fixed on the young man seated at Lin Sanlong's right hand. Jealousy, resentment, greed, joy, awe—a mix of emotions flickered across the faces of the crowd. Two hundred taels of silver!
The young man's expression showed clear surprise, a spark of excitement rising. His gaze briefly swept over the others before he shot to his feet, waving his hands in refusal. "Big brother, that's too much!"
Lin Sanlong laughed heartily, pressing the young man's sturdy frame back into his seat. "Second brother, I'm a man of my word. How could I go back on it? Besides, what is a mere two hundred taels compared to the bond between us brothers? It's settled."
Subtly, the jealous stares grew even more intense. The young man seemed moved, his face flushing with emotion as he stood again, clasping his fists firmly. "Big brother." No words were needed—his gratitude, as if ready to brave fire and water, was plain and unwavering.
"Second brother." Lin Sanlong took the young man's hands in his, his face equally sincere and warm.
"Big brother." "Second brother."
The bandits in the hall watched in silence. Suddenly, a loud shout broke out. "Long live the Chief! Long live the Second Chief!" Cheers followed, a hundred or more voices roaring in unison, as if shaking the night itself.
"Good! The feast begins now, brothers. Drink until we drop!" Lin Sanlong set aside the brotherly moment, shouting with gusto.
"Drink!" "Come, drink!" "Second Chief, I toast you. I, Liu Laosan, admire you the most!" "Second Chief, I toast you too!"
Chaos erupted, with drinking and laughter everywhere. The young second chief became the center of attention, as one after another came to toast him. He seemed overjoyed, accepting every bowl without hesitation, drinking one after another.
Before long, the young man's sturdy frame began to sway drunkenly. His face was flushed, thick with intoxication, but his mouth kept moving. "Come, drink! Tonight, we don't stop until we're drunk!" "Big brother, I toast you. Without you, I, Li Daoqiang, wouldn't be where I am today. You're my true brother—whatever you say, I'll do." "Hey, sister-in-law, you're here too! Come, sister-in-law, I toast you. You're my real sister-in-law."
His drunken voice rang through the hall, and those who heard it could almost feel the sincerity and openness behind it. Meanwhile, many eyes in the hall kept drifting toward a certain figure, their gazes filled with greed and lust. She wore a pink dress, her skin fair, her figure alluring. Her charming face carried an indescribable allure. She moved freely among the crowd, occasionally drinking with them. Then, she sat down beside the second chief, carefully tending to the drunken man. Subtly, the jealousy in the room grew even stronger.
After a while longer, the robust second chief finally couldn't hold on and slumped onto the table.
"Second brother? Second brother?" The woman gently shook him. When there was no response, she sighed helplessly. "He really drank too much." She then shot a glance at Lin Sanlong, who called out loudly, "It seems the second chief is drunk. Wang Lin, Li Si, help him back to rest!"
"Yes!" Two burly men who seemed to have been waiting nearby immediately responded.
Once the second chief was taken away, the feast continued as if nothing had happened.
In a courtyard not far from the Assembly Hall, Wang Lin and Li Si carefully laid the drunken second chief on the bed, covered him with a blanket, and left. "The second chief is drunk. I'll take the first watch tonight, and you can relieve me later," Wang Lin whispered.
"Alright, I'll head off then." Li Si nodded and walked away. Wang Lin glanced around, then moved to a shadowy spot, keeping a cautious watch.
Meanwhile, inside the room, the second chief lying on the bed silently opened his eyes. Though there was a hint of drunkenness in them, clarity dominated. The bold smile was gone from his sharp, cold-featured face, replaced by deep thought.
Suddenly giving me two hundred taels? To stir up jealousy against me? Is that the plan...
As the thought crossed his mind, a chill deepened between his brows, and his large hands clenched. After a few breaths, a cold smirk flickered across his face. No matter what, with two hundred taels in hand, hah.
He closed his eyes, seeing the information panel he had looked at every day for over two years.
**Host:** Li Daoqiang **Realm:** Houtian **Martial Arts:** Dragon-Elephant Prajna Art (Second Layer), Iron Shirt (Mastered), Crushing Stone Palm (Mastered), Cicada-Stepping Technique (Mastered) **Talent:** Immunity to All Poisons **Bandit Points:** 50
The Great Bandit System—that was what Li Daoqiang called his golden finger. Over two years ago, on his water-blue home planet, he had just graduated from university at twenty-two, having grown up in an orphanage. After being coaxed by friends into losing his innocence at some unspeakable place, he had barely adjusted to the idea that not having a girlfriend wasn't so bad when he inexplicably ended up in this strange, dangerous world. Lin Sanlong had taken him in, making him a freshly minted bandit. At the same time, the Great Bandit System had activated.
The system's function was simple and clear: anything he plundered could be converted into bandit points. So far, bandit points could only be used to improve his martial arts progress. But that alone was incredibly powerful. At least, Li Daoqiang was satisfied—it was this system that had kept him alive in this world. It had given him a welcome gift from the start: the formidable Dragon-Elephant Prajna Art and the miraculous talent of immunity to all poisons.
In over two years since his transmigration, he had only lingered in this small mountain stronghold, a disgrace to all transmigrators. Li Daoqiang sometimes felt quite embarrassed, but after more than two years of being schooled by reality in the Black Dragon Stronghold, he had come to terms with it. In this familiar yet strange, highly dangerous comprehensive martial world, a powerless transmigrator meant nothing. He could easily be killed by some low-tier bandit. Survival was what mattered, and everything started hard. So he had stayed put in the Black Dragon Stronghold for over two years, building his initial capital.
Now... His eyes fixed on the Dragon-Elephant Prajna Art for a moment, a flicker of heat passing through them. Once he calmed his emotions, he got up and began to cultivate. His internal energy flowed through the twelve main meridians as he worked on the third layer of the Dragon-Elephant Prajna Art.
In the novels Li Daoqiang had read in his past life, the Dragon-Elephant Prajna Art was famous. In this clearly high-martial world, its power was even more formidable, ranking among the top divine martial arts. It had thirteen layers in total. According to its teachings, reaching the thirteenth layer could lead to the legendary Grandmaster realm. Moreover, this art was rare in that it cultivated both internal and external aspects—inner energy and physical body. Combining the two, its strength at the same realm was among the best, even among many divine arts. But at the same time, its difficulty was notoriously extreme.
(A new book begins, seeking all kinds of support.) ………………