Although everyone present was well-off, none of them were fools; handing over a million just like that was not a trivial decision.
So, when Wang Renbin finished speaking, the room fell into a heavy silence. No one voiced an objection, yet no one agreed either.
Zhao Xiaomeng said flatly, "Two or thirty million for a single teleportation talisman? Young Master Wang, you certainly know how to do business."
"It is value for money. To obtain this teleportation talisman, my Wang Family didn't just pay other costs—we mobilized over ten thousand players. I think that justifies the price." Wang Renbin smiled faintly. "A million shouldn't be too much for you to manage. We all know why everyone entered this game. If we waste time here haggling over a mere million, the losses incurred over time will far exceed that amount."
With that, he looked at Zhao Xiaomeng. "With the financial strength of the Zhao family, a million is but a drop in the ocean. If you can't afford it, Xiaomeng, consider it a loan from me."
These words caused Zhao Xiaomeng's expression to flicker. Indeed, a million was not a significant sum, not for the Zhao family, and certainly not for her personally. She simply didn't want Wang Renbin to be the one profiting. However, just as he said, a million wasn't the real problem; if the bandit scourge were to persist for another two days, her losses would be far greater than that.
It wasn't just Zhao Xiaomeng; most people present felt the same. After all, everyone sitting here—able to rally other players and establish a faction in such a short time—possessed significant backing.
In the end, they agreed to his terms. There was no choice; the situation dictated the terms. Since the Wang Family held this trump card, they held the upper hand.
***
"Stronghold Master, most of those Outlanders have gone into hiding. Should we take the next step?" Zhang Tieniu asked Qin Shujian in a low voice.
Although he remained a leader in the Liangshan Stronghold, he was now a Martial Entry Third Stage expert. Even with his cultivation increased, standing before Qin Shujian, he felt a pressure more immense than ever before. This only deepened his awe of Qin Shujian.
Qin Shujian rubbed his chin, saying nothing for a moment. Over the last four days, they had slaughtered a vast number of players. The majority of the bandits in Liangshan Stronghold had leveled up to the Martial Entry Second Stage. However, many bandits had also died. As time passed, the first batch of fallen bandits had respawned. To Qin Shujian’s surprise, a very small number of bandits who should have reached the Second Stage had dropped back down to the First Stage. The bandits who were already First Stage remained unchanged.
This realization made one thing clear to Qin Shujian: when bandits were killed by players, while they could respawn, they would lose a level of cultivation. As for those who stayed at the First Stage, he assumed that was the lowest possible realm. They couldn't drop any further. In effect, after these few days, the Second Stage bandits who had died were essentially back to square one.
"There are 133 people in Liangshan Stronghold now. Over a hundred have been killed by players in the last few days, leaving only about twenty who survived throughout. Among these twenty, six—including Zhang Tieniu—have reached the Third Stage. The others are hovering at the Second Stage. As for those who died once, most have returned to their original state. Counting it all up, it’s about right."
After weighing the gains and losses, Qin Shujian felt a sense of certainty. In just a few days, the stronghold had gained so many experts that their strength had increased several times over.
However, Qin Shujian frowned as he looked at Zhang Tieniu. "You must have killed many Outlanders over these past few days. Why haven't you advanced to the Martial Entry Fourth Stage?"
"Stronghold Master, as you know, we rise in rank by killing Outlanders. But if an Outlander's realm is more than three stages lower than our own, it has no effect. Currently, there isn't a single Outlander left at the First Stage, so how could I advance to the Fourth?"
"Oh... I almost forgot." Qin Shujian paused, then regained his composure. He hadn't known that one could only gain experience by killing players no more than three stages below oneself. He had wondered why, despite killing so many players, none of his Third Stage men had broken through to the Fourth. He had assumed it was due to the large experience gap, but it seemed there was simply no experience to be gained at all.
What Zhang Tieniu said was news to him, yet the man’s matter-of-fact tone suggested this was common knowledge. This led Qin Shujian to a realization: his own ability to obtain Life Source—which appeared to have no cultivation restrictions—was vastly different from the other bandits. He was a glitch in the system.
He realized that while he was technically an NPC, he was fundamentally different from the others. Other NPCs were bound by the "three-stage" rule, while he had no such limits. He gained Life Source from both players and NPCs alike.
Furthermore, there were things Zhang Tieniu and the others seemed to naturally understand that he did not. This gave rise to deep concern regarding his own ability to respawn if killed. "It seems I might not be able to respawn like the other NPCs!"
He turned to Zhang Tieniu and said, "Pass on my order: all brothers are to launch a full-scale assault on Novice Village No. 10021 tomorrow. Before then, surround the village. Do not let a single Outlander escape. But don't slaughter too many just yet; just scare them back inside. Try to keep our own casualties to a minimum."
By tomorrow, another batch of bandits would have respawned, providing more strength and insurance for the attack on the village.
***
Name: Qin Shujian
Identity: Liangshan Stronghold Master
Affiliation: Liangshan Stronghold
Realm: Martial Entry Seventh Stage (+1 while within Liangshan territory)
Cultivation Method: Body Forging Scripture, 6th Stage (+), (Qi follows intent), (Robust blood qi), (Mortal Grade Mid-Tier); Black Tiger Saber Technique (Peak Perfection), (Mortal Grade Mid-Tier); Changchun Skill (Completed), (+), (Endless Life), (Mortal Grade Low-Tier); Seven-Leaf Piercing Palm (+), (Mastery), (Mortal Grade Low-Tier); Five-Element Bagua Steps (+), (Peak Perfection), (Mortal Grade Low-Tier)
Life Source: 503
Equipment: Ninth-Tier Tiger-Head Saber, Ninth-Tier Tiger-Skin Armor Set
This was Qin Shujian’s current status. With the amount of players killed by his bandits, his Life Source grew constantly. He had renamed his unknown cultivation method to the "Body Forging Scripture." He had pushed his Changchun Skill to the fifth stage, gaining the "Endless Life" effect, and elevated his Five-Element Bagua Steps to "Peak Perfection."
Looking at his 500-plus Life Source, he didn't hesitate to upgrade the Body Forging Scripture. 300 points were deducted instantly, and the text shifted to the 7th Stage.
Boom!
He felt as if a fire were burning inside him, his skin prickling with a tearing pain. His skin withered and fell away in layers, nine times over, before stopping. When it settled, his skin looked as if it were cast in bronze, seemingly indestructible.
Martial Entry Seventh Stage! Bronze Skin!
Qin Shujian’s eyes flashed. With his territorial bonus, his effective realm was now the Eighth Stage. The 7th Stage of the Body Forging Scripture granted him the "Bronze Skin" attribute. He pinched his arm—it felt flexible yet metallic. He drew his Tiger-Head Saber and lightly traced his arm; the cold blade left no mark. He tried again with normal force—only a white mark. Only when he used 30% of his strength did he feel a sting, and a thin line of red appeared.
"What formidable defense!" Qin Shujian gasped.
His Tiger-Head Saber was a Ninth-Tier weapon, and combined with his Eighth Stage strength, it was enough to easily crush a Fifth Stage expert. If even that could barely break his skin, it meant that anyone below the Sixth Stage would find it nearly impossible to hurt him. He was effectively invincible against anyone below the Sixth Stage.
With 200 Life Source left, he pushed the Changchun Skill to the 6th Stage.
"Unknown Cultivation Method, 6th Stage! Special Effect: 'Prolong Life'!"
A warm current surged through him. He felt younger, his already peak condition radiating even more vitality. He kept the name "Changchun Skill" for this new stage. "Prolong Life... perhaps this skill is focused on longevity. I wonder if it can eventually lead to true immortality."
Regardless, his power had increased. Tomorrow’s attack on Novice Village No. 10021 was a certainty, and while he suspected there might be hidden experts, he was now effectively an Eighth Stage fighter. If he couldn't take a village with this level of strength, he would have no one to blame but himself.
***
The next day, in Liangshan Stronghold, Qin Shujian stood before 73 sturdy bandits—the total force available after excluding the young, the old, and those yet to respawn.
One was Fourth Stage, six were Third Stage, seventeen were Second Stage, and the rest were First Stage. The scene was silent. As the first rays of the morning sun touched the mountain, Qin Shujian waved his hand, his expression calm. "Move out!"
He stepped forward, and Zheng Fang, Zhang Tieniu, and the others followed. Most of the bandits descended the mountain, leaving only a dozen behind to guard the stronghold.
***
Novice Village No. 10021.
The bandit scourge was rampant, forcing players to scramble for scraps of experience near the village. Suddenly, a player looking into the distance went pale.
"Bandits!"
"What?!"
The word triggered instant panic. The Liangshan Stronghold and its bandits were a recurring nightmare for the players of this village. Everyone here had suffered at their hands, trapped and fearful.
As the players turned and saw the familiar, dense formation of figures—the tall stature, the stern face at the lead—chaos erupted.
"It’s the Stronghold Master!"
"Run! The Liangshan Stronghold Master is attacking the village!"
They fled in a panic toward the safety of the village. The "Liangshan Stronghold Master" was a legendary figure in their eyes—a boss that thousands of players had failed to bring down, a symbol of terror.
Qin Shujian didn't bother chasing them. His focus was on whatever hidden experts might reside within the village.
News of his arrival spread instantly. Usually, the bandits never stepped within two miles of the village. The players had assumed some sort of rule prevented them from entering this "safe zone." Now, the Stronghold Master had broken that rule.
"The Liangshan Stronghold Master!" Wang Renbin’s expression darkened. Cao Hong, Zhao Xiaomeng, and the others gathered in a panic.
Lu Shoujia said in a low voice, "He’s leading the bandits himself—this is a hostile intent. I don't think the village's current strength can hold them off."
He looked at Wang Renbin. "Young Master Wang, when do you plan to act?"
Everyone else looked to Wang Renbin as well. The million had been paid; they could only wait for the Wang Family to resolve the crisis.