Li Daoqiang didn't have much objection to it.
For the sake of survival.
Nothing shameful about that.
On the contrary, he rather appreciated people who knew how to read the room.
He spoke calmly: "Willing to join the Black Dragon Stronghold?"
"Willing, willing, it's this humble one's honor. Your subordinate, Plucking Star, pays respects to the Great Chieftain. May the Great Chieftain enjoy eternal blessings and live as long as the heavens."
Plucking Star was overjoyed, kowtowing repeatedly.
The others immediately followed suit, kowtowing as well, a stream of flattery pouring out without pause, each phrase different from the last.
Li Daoqiang cracked a faint smile.
Then, he noticed the gazes of those around him were somewhat odd.
Behind Duan Yu, the two young maids—one of them even showed a hint of disdain.
He ignored it automatically, not caring about such opinions at all.
At least they were useful talents, and besides, there was nothing wrong with enjoying flattery.
Who doesn't like flattery?
Su Xinghe wanted to speak but held back, weighed down by caution.
"Husband, they're not good people," Wang Yuyan couldn't help tugging at Li Daoqiang's sleeve, pouting.
Silly girl, as if your husband is a good person.
Li Daoqiang looked at her, his peripheral vision sweeping over the others. After a brief pause, he said calmly, "It's fine. Your husband isn't a good person either. Be good."
The moment the words left his mouth, everyone froze, the atmosphere growing quiet.
Li Qingluo couldn't help but wear a strange expression, looking at Li Daoqiang with speechless exasperation.
Wang Yuyan's eyes widened, staring at her husband in bewilderment.
Clearly, it had never crossed her mind that her husband might be a bad person.
Even though her husband was a bandit, how could he be a bad person?
Li Qingluo tugged at her foolish daughter, giving her a light glare, signaling her to say no more.
On matters like this, it was clearly inappropriate for a woman to interfere.
These people weren't Ding Chunqiu.
Many others were left dumbfounded.
They couldn't fathom that a peerless powerhouse would openly say such a thing.
But then, considering Li Daoqiang's identity as a bandit, it suddenly became somewhat acceptable.
Still, it was a bit too... straightforward.
Behind Duan Yu, even the anger in Mu Wanqing's eyes lessened slightly.
That bastard really is a bad person.
"G-Great Chieftain, Ding Chunqiu is also willing to join the Black Dragon Stronghold."
Suddenly, Ding Chunqiu, lying weakly in the pit, spoke in a frail voice. He struggled to rise, knelt without hesitation, his silver hair disheveled, his face filled with fear and reverence.
"Great Chieftain, I will swear loyalty to you unto death. May the Great Chieftain reign for a thousand autumns and ten thousand years, uniting the martial world."
His tone was earnest, like the most loyal of subordinates.
This shameless display left everyone present speechless again.
The key point was that he was a Grandmaster, unlike Plucking Star and the others, who were at most Innate experts.
Thus, everyone couldn't help but be moved.
Scornful glances were cast his way.
Duan Yanqing, Jiumozhi, and the others were no exception. The face of Grandmasters was nearly dragged through the mud by Ding Chunqiu.
Ding Chunqiu didn't care at all, staring at Li Daoqiang with eager eyes.
He looked like he wanted to be the most loyal lackey.
Li Daoqiang, on the other hand, rather appreciated it. He liked this kind of person.
Nor was he surprised.
Given how much Ding Chunqiu loved flattery and the rules he set for his disciples, it was clear he believed in nothing but the survival of the fittest.
For someone like that, as long as you were far stronger and could crush him, he'd do anything to survive.
"Great Chieftain, Ding Chunqiu is despicable and shameless, betraying his master and ancestors. He's utterly untrustworthy. It's best to kill him immediately." Su Xinghe couldn't hold back, cupping his fist in salute.
"Indeed, it's best to chop him into pieces and use him as flower fertilizer," Li Qingluo added, her voice icy.
Regardless, he was still her biological father.
If the opportunity arose, she wouldn't mind taking revenge.
Plucking Star and the others wanted to speak up too, hoping to see Ding Chunqiu dead quickly, but they didn't dare, knowing they had no say.
Ding Chunqiu bristled, speaking hurriedly: "Su Xinghe, don't slander me! Great Chieftain, yes, I harmed my master.
But it's all because he didn't treat me sincerely, refusing to teach me the sect's core divine arts!
And besides, how could he compare to you, Great Chieftain?
He's not even fit to hold your shoes! I would never dare betray you.
I swear, I will serve you loyally unto death."
Suddenly, as if struck by an idea, he quickly added: "I also have money, Great Chieftain. I have millions of silver taels hidden in the Starry Sea.
I also have a female disciple—she's incredibly beautiful.
All of this is yours, Great Chieftain."
Li Daoqiang raised an eyebrow slightly, quite satisfied inside.
Ding Chunqiu, all the way out in the distant Starry Sea, knew to bribe him with wealth and beauty—what did that say?
It meant his persona was well-established.
These sheep knew how to offer him benefits on their own.
"Traitor, you still have the nerve to mention Master!" Su Xinghe was furious, gritting his teeth but still not daring to act directly. He cupped his fist toward Li Daoqiang and Wang Yuyan: "Great Chieftain, Sect Leader, please avenge Master!"
Everyone, including Ding Chunqiu, focused their attention on Wang Yuyan.
Sect Leader!
Suddenly, Ding Chunqiu's eyes locked onto Wang Yuyan's thumb.
His eyes widened, and he couldn't help shouting: "The Seven Treasure Ring! That old—Wu Yazi actually passed the Xiaoyao Sect leadership to you!"
"Yes, Grandfather did pass the sect leader position to me," Wang Yuyan said, glaring angrily at Ding Chunqiu. Then, her big, watery eyes turned to Li Daoqiang: "Husband, can we clean house today?"
Though she wasn't deliberately acting cute, Li Daoqiang still felt she was doing just that.
Subtle, natural, and all the more hard to refuse or soften toward.
Ding Chunqiu was stunned. That old man had passed the sect leader position to Li Daoqiang's wife.
And she was his granddaughter.
Wasn't he doomed?
"Great Chieftain, the wealth of the Starry Sea and the junior disciple A'zi—we can offer them all to you," Plucking Star said cautiously, seizing the opportunity.
The others nodded in agreement.
Ding Chunqiu glared at them with a twisted face. Traitors!
He wished he could strike them dead on the spot, but he couldn't afford to care about that now.
Hurriedly, he said: "Great Chieftain, I'm useful. I'm a Grandmaster. I will surely be loyal to you."
Li Daoqiang's lips curled slightly. He looked at Wang Yuyan with fondness and smiled: "Don't rush, Yuyan. Remember what we said? Let him serve as a slave for thirty years—that'll be revenge enough for Grandfather.
See? He's quite suited to being a dog."
The assembled experts frowned. Ding Chunqiu's face twitched.
But he dared not show any anger, kneeling obediently, his expression tense, hopeful, and fearful.
Wang Yuyan furrowed her brow slightly, unsure, and glanced at her mother.
Li Qingluo looked at Li Daoqiang without a word.
Su Xinghe hesitated. Serving as a slave didn't seem bad.
But it was still a potential threat.
Seeing Wang Yuyan undecided, Li Daoqiang stopped pressing. He walked over to Ding Chunqiu and said with interest: "Willing to be a dog?"
The experts frowned even more. Regardless, Ding Chunqiu was still a Grandmaster.
As fellow Grandmasters, they naturally didn't want to see one of their own treated like a dog.
It felt degrading.
Ding Chunqiu looked at Li Daoqiang, so close before him, and lowered his head, a flash of ruthlessness in his eyes.
The next moment, he shuffled forward on his knees, kneeling at Li Daoqiang's feet, and said decisively: "Willing. I am willing to be your dog, Great Chieftain."
As he spoke, a black mist suddenly erupted from his body.
With a surge of his power, it instantly enveloped Li Daoqiang.
Then, he leaped backward.
Though his aura was somewhat weakened, he was clearly still capable of fighting.
His face twisted with glee as he glared at Li Daoqiang.
"Great Chieftain!"
"Husband!"
Su Xinghe and Wang Yuyan cried out, rushing toward Li Daoqiang.
Li Daoqiang raised a hand to stop them.
The others' expressions shifted, each reacting differently to this sudden turn.
"Hahaha, Li Daoqiang, you've been hit by my deadly poison! Even if you're a peerless expert, if you dare to use your inner energy, you'll die from the poison. Let me leave, and I'll give you the antidote. How about that?" Ding Chunqiu laughed triumphantly, brimming with confidence.
The experts' eyes flickered as they cautiously observed Li Daoqiang.
Still surrounded by the poison mist, Li Daoqiang glanced at it with distaste, frowned, and then inhaled sharply, drawing all the mist into his mouth.
Ding Chunqiu's smile froze, his eyes wide with confusion.
"Got any other poisons? Bring them all out. I'll give you one chance to try," Li Daoqiang said with a faint smile, looking intrigued, as if not angry at all.
Many in the crowd felt a pang of disappointment, then settled back into calm.
"H-How is that possible?" Ding Chunqiu stepped back in fear.
Li Daoqiang walked forward unhurriedly, saying calmly: "Didn't you hear me?"
With a thud, Ding Chunqiu knelt.
He even held his breath: "Great Chieftain, this subordinate, this subordinate deserves death. I was joking."
"Didn't you hear me?" Li Daoqiang's face showed a hint of impatience.
Ding Chunqiu quickly shook his head, his trembling hands pulling out several powders.
Li Daoqiang reached out, sucked them into his hand, and sniffed them.
He frowned slightly, as if dissatisfied: "Is this all the poison you have?"
Ding Chunqiu's eyes nearly popped out, his mind screaming.
How could it be useless?
Hearing this, he immediately said: "There's also the Art of Dissolving Power, and the Rotting Corpse Palm driven by inner energy."
"Try it." Li Daoqiang extended a palm.
Ding Chunqiu hesitated, but seeing Li Daoqiang's expression, he gritted his teeth and unleashed his full power.
After a few breaths, the palm remained unchanged, completely unaffected.
Ding Chunqiu's face gradually turned to despair.
The others pondered, most growing more solemn.
After a few more breaths, Ding Chunqiu seemed to snap out of it, withdrawing his power and kowtowing: "Great Chieftain's divine skill is unmatched. This subordinate will be your dog forever."
"Useless." Li Daoqiang kicked Ding Chunqiu to the ground.
Ding Chunqiu immediately scrambled back to his knees, showing no discontent, and said respectfully: "Great Chieftain's divine skill naturally renders this subordinate's poison completely ineffective."
Li Daoqiang smiled again, speaking slowly: "I gave you a chance to try. Since you couldn't manage it, we need to discuss your punishment."
"I'll accept any punishment from the Great Chieftain," Ding Chunqiu said without hesitation, though his trembling hands betrayed his fear.
(Chapter 2.) ······