Thinking to themselves, on the surface, neither of them dared to show the slightest sign.
Both remained silent.
Li Daoqiang glanced at the Bandit System and noticed that the bandit points hadn’t increased. He fell into thought.
Perhaps Wu Xingyun hadn’t yet confirmed the truth, so she wasn’t officially part of Black Dragon Stockade yet.
Still, he grew more cautious in his heart.
He needed to wrap up these matters quickly and secure the gains.
With that in mind, he led Wu Xingyun to the Spirit Falcon Palace.
With Li Daoqiang present, Wu Xingyun had no further concerns.
She openly issued orders, primarily targeting the Thirty-Six Islands and Seventy-Two Caves.
Li Daoqiang, who valued talent, had Duan Yanqing accompany her.
His goal was simple: recruit the people from the Thirty-Six Islands and Seventy-Two Caves into Black Dragon Stockade’s ranks.
Wu Xingyun frowned but didn’t object.
She silently acquiesced to the order.
After all, she couldn’t care less about those people. With her temperament, if she regained her full power, she would have killed them all without hesitation.
In the main hall of the Spirit Falcon Palace.
After Wu Xingyun finished issuing her commands, Li Daoqiang smiled and said, “The童姥 truly governs well. Everyone in the Spirit Falcon Palace obeys your every word without question.”
Wu Xingyun smirked with pride but said nothing more.
“By the way,童姥, when I came to the Spirit Falcon Palace searching for you, I found a secret chamber in the rear hall with several divine martial arts techniques. Curious, I memorized them. You wouldn’t mind, would you?” Li Daoqiang shifted the topic with a grin.
Wu Xingyun’s face stiffened, her cute little features twitching.
You’ve already memorized them, and you’re asking if I mind?
If I said I did, could you forget them?
Suppressing her frustration, she feigned indifference and said in a low voice, “If the chieftain likes them, keep them. They’re all martial arts of the Carefree Sect anyway.”
“Good. There’s another matter I’d like to consult you about,童姥,” Li Daoqiang said politely.
“What is it?” Wu Xingyun eyed him warily.
“I’ve heard that the Life-and-Death Talisman is your unique skill for controlling subordinates. I’m quite interested. I hope you’ll be generous enough to teach me,” Li Daoqiang said, nodding with added courtesy.
Though he could figure out the Life-and-Death Talisman on his own, it would take time. It was far more convenient to learn directly from Wu Xingyun.
Wu Xingyun’s eyes grew more guarded.
She hesitated.
The Life-and-Death Talisman was no trivial matter. If she gave it to Li Daoqiang...
But he already knew about the Life-and-Death Talisman and the Tianshan Six Sun Palm. Once he practiced the latter, he’d eventually figure it out on his own.
After a moment’s thought, she said, “Since the chieftain wants it, I won’t refuse. Once we reach Black Dragon Stockade and I confirm what you’ve said is true, I’ll hand over the Life-and-Death Talisman.”
“Good. Thank you,童姥.” Li Daoqiang smiled in satisfaction.
Wu Xingyun nodded curtly, unwilling to engage further.
This thick-skinned, smiling tiger Li Daoqiang was always taking advantage of her.
If circumstances weren’t against her, she wouldn’t bother with him at all.
“童姥, has there been an issue with the Eternal Youth Longevity Art you’ve been practicing?” Li Daoqiang asked, as if noticing something, his tone tinged with concern.
Wu Xingyun’s heart stirred. Regardless of his nature, Li Daoqiang was a supreme expert who knew this martial art. It was worth hearing him out.
She nodded and said solemnly, “This art was originally called the Pure Yang Supreme Art, the version you found in the secret chamber. It’s purely yang and unsuitable for women. Later, unwilling to accept that, I reversed it to pure yin, making it suitable for women, and renamed it the Eternal Youth Longevity Art, carving the name on that stone wall. Afterward, I ran into some issues and renamed it the Eight Desolates, Six Harmonies, Only I Am Supreme Art.”
As she spoke, a flicker of complex sadness passed through her eyes.
It vanished quickly as she continued, “This art requires a return to youth every thirty years, meaning a dispersion of power. After returning to youth, to recover my strength, I must practice daily, each day counting as a year. And at noon, I must drink raw blood to cultivate.”
At the end, a hint of embarrassment crossed her face, and she looked away.
Li Daoqiang saw through her immediately.
That last part—drinking raw blood—clearly didn’t align with the Carefree Sect’s principles. It was likely a flaw Wu Xingyun had introduced herself.
He knew she was embarrassed because he could tell.
He didn’t dwell on it, instead combining what he knew of the Pure Yang Supreme Art with what Wu Xingyun had just said.
He fell into silent contemplation.
Wu Xingyun gradually turned her gaze back to Li Daoqiang, a hint of expectation in her eyes.
Ever since her master, Carefree Master, disappeared, she had cultivated alone.
For so many years, she had never been able to take that next step.
Now, encountering a supreme expert who knew the Pure Yang Supreme Art, she naturally hoped he could offer some useful advice.
After another long pause, Li Daoqiang spoke seriously, “童姥, based on what you’ve said, the Eight Desolates, Six Harmonies, Only I Am Supreme Art seems to have some problems. But it’s hard to fix immediately. However, I’ve noticed one issue.”
“What issue?” Wu Xingyun’s voice carried a hint of excitement and anticipation.
“Although the Eight Desolates, Six Harmonies, Only I Am Supreme Art is now pure yin, it originated from the Pure Yang Supreme Art, a Daoist divine technique. All Daoist divine techniques follow Daoist principles. But your temperament,童姥, doesn’t quite align with Daoist thought. Have you considered that your own nature might have affected this technique, leading to problems?”
Li Daoqiang spoke bluntly, ignoring Wu Xingyun’s increasingly sour expression, and tactfully held back some criticisms.
If she could beat him, Wu Xingyun would have jumped up and slapped him to death.
Was he indirectly insulting her temperament?
She wasn’t stupid.
But amid her anger, other thoughts surfaced, leaving her unsettled.
Li Daoqiang watched the little girl’s face—technically an adult but looking like a child—shift through expressions: gritting her teeth, hesitating, struggling, and then burning with hatred.
He knew Wu Xingyun had likely realized something.
But realizing it and changing it were two different things.
Sure enough, after a few breaths, Wu Xingyun said flatly, “Thank you for the advice, chieftain.”
She offered a perfunctory thanks and said nothing more.
Li Daoqiang didn’t mind. After seventy-plus years of stubbornness, it would be strange if a few words could make her completely awaken and let go.
No rush. Take it slow.
By the next morning, Duan Yanqing arrived at the Spirit Falcon Palace with Wu Laoda and a few others.
Wu Xingyun didn’t show herself. Li Daoqiang sat in the main seat.
“Greetings, chieftain!”
Wu Laoda and the others immediately knelt and bowed.
“Since you’ve made the smart choice, wait quietly for further orders. Understand?” Li Daoqiang said directly.
His imposing aura pressed down on them, making Wu Laoda and the others tremble as they repeatedly agreed.
“Go back and wait.” Li Daoqiang had no interest in saying more.
A bunch of people at most at the innate realm weren’t worth his time.
They were a decent catch in numbers, but not enough to lower his status.
Simply put, their strength was lacking. That was the reality.
Wu Laoda and the others left the Spirit Falcon Palace, some disappointed, some relieved.
“Chieftain, a master-level expert named Zhuo Bufan left on his own,” Duan Yanqing reported.
Li Daoqiang waved it off. “Let him go. Don’t bother.”
Wu Xingyun had once killed Zhuo Bufan’s entire sect. To recruit him, he’d have to abandon Wu Xingyun.
Between the two, he knew his choice.
A while later, on Wu Xingyun’s suggestion, the group set out for Black Dragon Stockade.
Wu Xingyun brought only about twenty people.
Among them, four identical young girls immediately caught Li Daoqiang’s attention.
Quadruplets.
And each one was a stunning beauty, identical in every way.
Even Li Daoqiang couldn’t help but take a few extra looks.
This Spirit Falcon Palace was almost cheating.
Wu Xingyun noticed his gaze and smirked coldly.
Men—hah!
She didn’t react, instead casting a cold glance northwest, as if eager to reach Black Dragon Stockade and confirm the situation, urging everyone to speed up.
Li Daoqiang smiled and matched her pace.
But two days later.
The person Wu Xingyun feared finally arrived.
Li Daoqiang glanced at the oblivious Wu Xingyun with a knowing smile. “童姥, a strong one has come. I’ll go deal with them.”
With that, he vanished.
Wu Xingyun’s expression shifted. After a few seconds of hesitation, she chose to trust Li Daoqiang.
More importantly, she had no choice.
Suppressing her worry, she waited quietly.
The others didn’t know what was happening and dared not ask.
Twenty miles away.
Li Daoqiang appeared before a woman in white, studying her with interest.
Her features resembled Wang Yuyan’s, with skin still smooth and youthful, but with a more mature charm.
She looked at most in her thirties, still in her prime.
“Who are you?”
The woman startled, asking warily, her whole body on alert.
“I’m Li Daoqiang. You must be Li Qiushui,” he said calmly.
Li Daoqiang!
Li Qiushui’s eyes narrowed, her heart sinking.
Could it be true that Wu Xingyun had joined Black Dragon Stockade?
Then a flower-like smile bloomed on her face as she cooed, “So it’s the chieftain himself. I’ve been rude.”
“No need for formality. I’m here to tell you that Wu Xingyun has joined my Black Dragon Stockade. You should turn back,” Li Daoqiang said bluntly.
Li Qiushui’s smile faltered. She forced a laugh. “Is the chieftain joking? My senior sister is so proud—how could she easily join Black Dragon Stockade?”
“You can check for yourself. But don’t harm my stockade,” Li Daoqiang said with a slight smile.
“Of course not,” Li Qiushui forced a sweet laugh.
Li Daoqiang nodded and turned away.
Li Qiushui’s smile vanished instantly. She gritted her teeth, frowning deeply.
How could this be?
Why would Wu Xingyun join Black Dragon Stockade?
Was it just to avoid her?
(Chapter 1, requesting subscriptions.)
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