The name of Black Dragon Stronghold was known even to ordinary folk.
Among the many factions, it was like a flood of beasts.
In a short time, many forces banded together, seeking out those with Innate Realm experts to take charge for them.
Over the past month, these Innate Realm experts in Jingzhou had ostensibly joined forces twice more to wipe out Black Dragon Stronghold.
But both times they returned empty-handed. The only effect was to make Black Dragon Stronghold cautious, turning a blind eye to convoys flying the banners of various third-rate factions, leaving them completely untouched.
As for other convoys, they continued to rob them without restraint.
They robbed the convoys and then demanded ransom for the captives, claiming it was the grace of sparing their lives, which must be repaid.
The factions of Jingzhou were both furious and anxious, yet powerless.
Their only hope lay in the various Innate Realm experts of Jingzhou.
But after three consecutive expeditions that yielded nothing and cost them dearly, they had no room to complain.
All they could do was curse Black Dragon Stronghold and Li Daoqiang bitterly.
Some suggested seeking out the Four Southern Heroes, but faced with the combined Innate experts and the kin and disciples of the Four Southern Heroes, nothing came of it, and the matter fizzled out.
The one who took the clearest stance died within a few days.
Rumor had it that Li Daoqiang of Black Dragon Stronghold killed him, and the stronghold didn't deny it, as if tacitly confirming it.
Under these circumstances, Li Daoqiang's fame grew ever larger in Jingzhou, yet a force deliberately confined it to Jingzhou.
Only the many small factions feared him like a tiger and hated him like an enemy.
And over the past month, no one knew how it started.
Many small factions, when passing through Fuyun Mountain, began flying the banners of Jingzhou's major powers.
Their numbers grew rapidly, increasing day by day.
They indeed weren't robbed by Black Dragon Stronghold, and this clear effect was naturally widely imitated.
In the latter days of that month, Black Dragon Stronghold's business dropped sharply.
This situation, coincidentally, eased the fear of many small factions, weakening their desire to deal with Black Dragon Stronghold.
Paying a fee to the major powers for their protection wasn't unacceptable.
It wasn't worth risking their lives anymore.
That was the truest thought of these small factions.
So, in a muddled way, the calls to attack and kill Black Dragon Stronghold gradually faded.
Another month passed.
Except for those not passing through Fuyun Mountain, all the small factions in Jingzhou had adopted the banners.
The roads of Fuyun Mountain returned to their former harmony.
No, it was even more harmonious than before.
After all, in the past, with so many strongholds in Fuyun Mountain, they mostly robbed ordinary people.
Now there was only Black Dragon Stronghold, and it didn't rob lone ordinary people.
Only a few outsiders or convoys taking their chances, stubbornly barging in, were cleaned out.
The situation in Jingzhou had, in this strange way, stabilized again.
Inside Black Dragon Stronghold.
"Chief, the silver from each family has been delivered." Li Si said respectfully to Li Daoqiang.
Li Daoqiang glanced at the 180,000 bandit points added to the Great Bandit System and nodded. "Good, you may go."
"Yes."
Li Si withdrew, and Li Daoqiang looked back at the Great Bandit System.
A total of about 810,000 bandit points.
That was the harvest of two months. Aside from the fixed 360,000 taels of silver over two months, the rest came almost entirely from the relentless robbery of the first month.
That month was a golden opportunity, so Li Daoqiang truly went all out, working exceptionally hard, rarely returning to the stronghold, always on the move.
The goods seized, plus the life-sparing grace, brought in over 400,000 taels.
Naturally, it would have been more, but selling the goods only got him 40% of their value.
That was only because of the current cooperation and his strength.
Otherwise, it would have been the same 30% as before.
With about 810,000 bandit points, he was still short of around 190,000 to upgrade the poison immunity talent.
He had already secretly found that treasure in the second month.
Now, he just needed those 190,000 bandit points.
Barring accidents, waiting another month would be enough.
Everything was finally stabilizing.
Li Daoqiang liked stability, not surprises.
But earning bandit points through silver had temporarily plateaued.
Unless he broke through to the Grandmaster Realm, it would be hard to advance further.
He just needed to wait another month before attempting to retrieve the treasure.
So, for this month, he wouldn't make any moves to earn silver, to avoid causing trouble.
Yet this month also stirred his thoughts.
There were three ways to gain bandit points.
All along, he had mainly relied on earning money.
As for the other two—strengthening his force—Black Dragon Stronghold now had over 2,000 people.
Nearly 1,800 able-bodied men, divided into nine units.
After multiple battles and the stronghold's rules, they could be considered fierce.
But all this time, they had only provided Li Daoqiang with about 10,000 bandit points.
Too little.
He had his guesses about this.
Ultimately, without him, Black Dragon Stronghold was too weak.
It had no experts; the strongest were barely at the Meridian Opening Realm.
Strictly speaking, they were insignificant.
This was a world where power resided in the individual, and experts were paramount.
He desperately wanted to know how many bandit points an expert joining Black Dragon Stronghold would bring.
And women.
As one of the three paths, he didn't think it was just an incidental, optional thing.
The effect must be significant.
But again, he had no chance to test it.
The only attempt, with Liu Si, hadn't met the standard.
Over these two months, it wasn't that he had no chance to kidnap some beauties.
But he hadn't tried.
There were some things he didn't want to do.
More so, as he said, he preferred fair transactions.
Now that the silver-earning path was stable, he had time to explore these two paths.
As for the target, he had identified one two months ago and had been itching to act, but held back.
After thinking it over, he made a final decision.
It was time to give it a try.
He ordered that he was in seclusion for cultivation and no one should disturb him, while secretly leaving Black Dragon Stronghold.
Only Wang Lin followed him.
In Jingzhou City.
Walking through the bustling streets, Li Daoqiang felt a bit nostalgic.
He had been in this world for over two years, yet his visits to Jingzhou City could be counted on one hand.
Before, it was out of caution and fear.
When he did come, it was on business for Lin Sanlong, forced to, every move careful, fearing death.
He stopped being afraid only two months ago, after mastering the seventh layer of the Dragon-Elephant Prajna Art, but he was too busy to come.
This time, he could finally walk openly through the streets of Jingzhou City.
No more worries.
Not to mention the cooperation, with his strength, no one in Jingzhou City could do anything to him.
He strolled unhurriedly, taking in the unique environment and atmosphere he had never had the mood to appreciate before.
Behind him, Wang Lin followed.
After a while, Li Daoqiang got down to business.
He asked calmly, "How's the target?"
"Chief, the target hasn't left yet, but based on past patterns, they'll definitely leave within two days," Wang Lin said promptly.
Li Daoqiang nodded. As his target, even without acting yet, he had naturally prepared in advance, ready to move whenever he wanted.
"Keep a close watch. Tell me as soon as they leave. And when outside, don't call me Chief; call me Master," Li Daoqiang said flatly.
"Yes, Master," Wang Lin immediately corrected himself.
Li Daoqiang was somewhat satisfied.
Though his age made the title seem a bit off.
But compared to Young Master, Sir, or Master, he preferred this one.
And he felt his mindset was far older than his years.
Next, Li Daoqiang went to an inn to wait for the target to appear.
At the same time, he began studying the map of Jingzhou's prison and its defensive layout.
Though this was considered confidential, with money and strength, obtaining it wasn't hard.
Just bribe a jailer.
It went smoothly. By the next day, one of his targets had left.
On a main street.
A young man and a girl walked together.
The young man wore elegant, ornate clothes, with a gentle smile and decent looks.
The girl was tall and slender, with a delicate waist, a round face, and big, sparkling black eyes.
Her skin was fair and radiant, her beauty charming and lovely, like a flower or jade.
She was truly a rare beauty.
What made her even more striking was her simple, pure, gentle temperament, which instantly endeared her to others.
Dressed in a lovely yellow outfit, she was stunning.
At that moment, the young man was patiently trying to cheer her up.
But the girl seemed quite downcast, with a layer of seemingly perpetual sorrow between her brows, uninterested in anything.
She clearly found it hard to refuse the young man's words, just going through the motions.
"Junior Sister, you don't need to worry. With Senior Brother here, I won't let anything happen to Junior Brother Di. I'll do my best to get his sentence reduced," the young man finally changed the subject, speaking solemnly.
The girl finally perked up a bit, saying gratefully, "Thank you, Senior Brother Wan."
"Junior Sister, no need to be polite. It's what I should do. But seeing you so sad these past months, I..." The young man sighed, his face showing pain.
The girl looked a bit embarrassed, lowering her head without speaking.
Seeing this, the young man frowned, thought for a moment, and was about to continue.
Suddenly, the light dimmed as several people blocked their way, glaring at them.
The young man felt a surge of anger but maintained his composure, stepping forward and saying sternly, "What is the meaning of this...?"
The girl also looked over, a hint of fear in her beautiful eyes.
"Heh, what a pretty little thing. Come with us," one of the men said with a lewd smile.
The girl flushed with anger, and the young man was furious.
"How dare you! In broad daylight, in public, do you know who I am?"
(Chapter 2, please support.) ......