As Bai Xiaosheng spoke, Li Daoqiang gained a more comprehensive and profound understanding of the Azure Dragon Society.
Including him, the Azure Dragon Society now had six Dragon Heads.
Additionally, there were sixteen non-Dragon Heads—those who hadn't yet reached the level of peerless experts.
Of course, it couldn't be confirmed whether any of these sixteen non-Dragon Heads and the six Dragon Heads were the same person.
After all, strength could grow; a non-Dragon Head might rise to become a Dragon Head.
Their name would likely remain on the non-Dragon Head list to prevent other Dragon Heads besides the Azure Dragon Head from guessing their identity.
The entire Azure Dragon Society revolved around the Azure Dragon Head's forces as its core.
All Dragon Heads and non-Dragon Heads connected through the Azure Dragon Head to obtain what they desired.
Of course, as long as one wasn't worried about their identity being exposed, a Dragon Head could also contact a non-Dragon Head.
In Li Daoqiang's view,
If he compared the Azure Dragon Society to a company, the Azure Dragon Head was the main body, the general manager.
The other Dragon Heads were unrelated shareholders.
The non-Dragon Heads were other companies cooperating with the company.
Through the Azure Dragon Head, various transactions were made between them.
The Azure Dragon Head mostly acted as an intermediary.
The Azure Dragon Society was a platform, connecting everyone together.
If Dragon Heads or non-Dragon Heads needed something, they could contact the Azure Dragon Head and state their requirements.
The Azure Dragon Head would help resolve it based on the specific situation.
Of course, they had to pay a price themselves.
As a Dragon Head, they naturally had many more privileges than non-Dragon Heads.
For example, knowing the identities of non-Dragon Heads, having more initiative, and even bypassing the Azure Dragon Head if needed.
They could also recommend members.
The relationship with the Azure Dragon Head was one of equal cooperation.
When it came to major matters concerning the Azure Dragon Society, the several Dragon Heads would discuss and decide together.
A Dragon Head could also mobilize some of the Azure Dragon Head's forces, representing the Azure Dragon Society.
There were also various intangible benefits that couldn't be put into words.
Dragon Heads were the true foundational pillars of the Azure Dragon Society platform, the shareholders.
This was easy to understand; without sufficient strength, the Azure Dragon Head alone couldn't have built such a large organization.
He had to bring in powerful shareholders.
The strength of the shareholders was the capital.
The Azure Dragon Head could use this capital to strengthen the company.
As for the shareholders' dividends, those were the privileges.
The real situation of the Azure Dragon Society was roughly like this.
"Black Dragon Head, from now on, the three branches closest to Jingzhou under my command are at your disposal. Bai Xiaosheng will give you the contact information. If anything comes up, you can also contact him," the Azure Dragon Head said after Bai Xiaosheng finished.
"Then many thanks," Li Daoqiang replied with a polite smile.
Without saying much more, the Azure Dragon Head left first.
Bai Xiaosheng stayed, spending a day in Black Dragon Village to explain more detailed matters to Li Daoqiang before leaving.
In the study,
Looking at the list of sixteen non-Dragon Heads' identities and much of their detailed information in his hand,
Li Daoqiang smiled. Most of them were indeed familiar.
Each one could be called a true schemer.
These were all sources of bandit points.
After silently pondering for a while, his thoughts turned to the Dragon Heads.
Azure Dragon Head, King Dragon Head, Twin Dragon Head, Heaven Dragon Head, Nether Dragon Head.
Since the Azure Dragon Head dared to appear openly before him,
The most likely scenario was that he had no fame in the martial world, an unknown figure.
The Azure Dragon Head of the Azure Dragon Society was his identity.
As for the others, barring surprises, their real identities would be very famous figures.
Four peerless experts, and possibly even more involved.
He was really curious about their identities.
And this Twin Dragon Head.
Bai Xiaosheng had already told him that this Twin Dragon Head was the one who first recommended him.
That meant this Twin Dragon Head would guess that the new Dragon Head of the Azure Dragon Society was him, Li Daoqiang.
Black Dragon Village, Black Dragon Head, plus the recent recommendation,
It was easy to figure out.
Of course, Li Daoqiang didn't mind the other party guessing his identity.
He even welcomed it.
If you've guessed it's me and know my personality, why not come and trade with me quickly?
Once a schemer at the peerless expert level started causing trouble, it would surely be earth-shaking.
The rewards went without saying.
Li Daoqiang was very much looking forward to it.
After silently thinking about the Azure Dragon Society for a while, he set it aside for now.
No rush; with so many schemers, someone would eventually stir things up.
Over the next ten-plus days, he stayed in Black Dragon Village, cultivating while patiently waiting.
He had handed over most of the jewelry he obtained, along with the assets from Shaolin Temple, to the Azure Dragon Society.
To sell them.
Jewelry had to be turned into money to count as bandit points.
Black Dragon Village had developed too short a time and lacked channels; he wasn't willing to sell cheap, so he hadn't sold much jewelry yet.
The Azure Dragon Society's channels needed no introduction; they wouldn't sell cheap, just taking a ten percent commission.
This was because of his Dragon Head status; for other non-Dragon Heads, the commission was thirty percent.
As for the assets, as long as they sold for more than half their market value, they could count as bandit points.
Nearly twenty days later,
Li Daoqiang's bandit points increased by about eighteen million.
Nearly ten million came from various jewelry sales.
Nearly eight million came from asset sales.
Actual silver gained was about twenty-eight million taels.
Host: Li Daoqiang
Realm: Grandmaster
Martial Arts: Dragon-Elephant Prajna Art (Eleventh Layer), Lingbo Weibu (Minor Success), Cloud-Pushing Palm (Beginner), Great Vajra Palm (Beginner), Great Vajra Finger (Minor Success), Invisible Leg (Minor Success), Demon-Subduing Fist (Minor Success)
Talents: Immune to All Poisons, Born War God, Top-Tier Aptitude
Bandit Points: 33,210,000
Glancing at the Great Bandit System panel in his mind, Li Daoqiang felt fairly satisfied.
It was just that the string of martial arts, all at beginner or minor success, was a bit unsightly.
But Li Daoqiang held back.
Because his cultivation of martial techniques was really fast.
In such a short time, Cloud-Pushing Palm and Great Vajra Palm had reached the beginner level.
Great Vajra Finger and the other two had reached minor success.
This was mainly because he focused on cultivating Lingbo Weibu.
If he used bandit points to upgrade, Cloud-Pushing Palm and Great Vajra Palm would each cost 100,000 for beginner, 500,000 for minor success.
Barring surprises, major success would cost 2.5 million, and perfection 12.5 million.
For Great Vajra Finger and the other two, the four stages were 20,000, 100,000, 500,000, and 2.5 million.
Though he had over thirty million bandit points, they weren't easy to come by; it was better to save them.
Besides, he could cultivate these martial techniques to a high level in a short time himself, so there was no need to waste.
Of course, another important reason was that these martial techniques didn't boost him much.
With these techniques, he had essentially determined the levels of grandmaster-level martial techniques.
The first level was like Great Vajra Finger.
For him now, minor success was useless, major success might be somewhat useful, and perfection might have some use.
The second level was like Cloud-Pushing Palm and Great Vajra Palm.
Beginner was useless, minor success might be somewhat useful, major success had some use, and perfection was unknown.
Simply put, even if he trained both levels to perfection, it wouldn't greatly enhance his strength.
It wasn't worth wasting bandit points.
Better to spend some time cultivating himself.
The third level was like Lingbo Weibu.
Beginner was useless now, minor success had some use, major success should be quite useful, and perfection was unknown.
Lingbo Weibu was worth investing bandit points in, but in another month, he was confident he could cultivate it to major success.
So, better to save.
Spending millions or tens of millions at a time pained him.
At the same time, because Cloud-Pushing Palm and the others didn't boost him much, Li Daoqiang's desire for martial arts like the Eighteen Dragon-Subduing Palms and the Tathagata Palm grew stronger.
To quickly enhance his strength in a short time, he couldn't rely on Dragon-Elephant Prajna Art.
He had to depend on at least third-level martial techniques.
Among various types of martial arts, based on his personality, preferences, and traits, palm techniques suited him best.
So far, the most famous and suitable for him were the Eighteen Dragon-Subduing Palms and the Tathagata Palm.
The Tathagata Palm's level should be higher than the Eighteen Dragon-Subduing Palms.
But he actually leaned more toward the Eighteen Dragon-Subduing Palms.
The Tathagata Palm was, after all, a Buddhist divine technique, and the Buddhist way didn't align with his character.
Cultivating such a divine technique would have no small impact on him.
Look at Gu Jianhun; he was mad for years, and the main reason wasn't the blow he suffered.
The blow was just a trigger.
The root cause should be the incompatibility between the Tathagata Palm and his nature, affecting him.
That was the influence of divine techniques.
Look at Shi Zhixuan; he ended up becoming a monk.
Xiao Yuanshan and Murong Bo also became monks in the end.
Gu Jianhun was mad for years and never reached the peerless level.
Buddhist martial arts were truly not easy to practice.
Including demonic, Taoist, and Confucian martial arts—it was all the same.
Cultivated to a deep level, they would affect the self.
His nature didn't align with Buddhism, so unless necessary, he didn't want to touch that level of martial arts.
Great Vajra Palm and Great Vajra Finger were fine.
First, their level wasn't high enough.
Second, they were mainly combat martial techniques.
As for Dragon-Elephant Prajna Art, it was from the Tantric tradition, a guardian divine technique focused on power—different.
So, even if the Azure Dragon Society could help him obtain the Tathagata Palm,
He didn't agree.
A bunch of trouble, and it might affect him.
As long as he had a choice, he didn't want to choose the Tathagata Palm.
The Eighteen Dragon-Subduing Palms were what he truly longed for.
Speaking of which, the opportunity should be coming soon, right?
In the Assembly Hall,
Li Daoqiang looked at the message from Bai Xiaosheng.
This was something he had asked the Azure Dragon Society to do.
Recruit experts for him.
Grandmasters or innate masters were fine.
He now had plenty of silver and wasn't afraid to spend.
After about twenty days, Bai Xiaosheng gave him the first list.
Eleven innate masters.
No grandmaster-level experts.
That was normal; grandmasters were rare everywhere and not easy to recruit.
Even among these eleven innate masters, most had their own conditions.
(Chapter 2, requesting full subscription.)
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