Life-stealing Scholar died at the hands of Jiang Dali.
Furthermore, Xiong Ba directly passed the position of Great Master to Jiang Dali.
Many mountain bandits dared not object, aside from a few traitors who were eliminated, almost no one was willing to step forward to defend Life-stealing Scholar, the Second Master.
This indeed verified the saying, "Out of sight, out of mind."
However, all the mountain bandits were people who had survived life and death situations, most of them were quick-witted and also respected the strong.
Jiang Dali already had a very high reputation in Black Wind Village, was powerful, and had the support of Xiong Ba, so it was not surprising that many bandits were willing to submit and pledge loyalty.
However, after this incident, the atmosphere within Black Wind Village became notably oppressive and heavy, though not to the extent of panic, everyone was still walking on thin ice.
Jiang Dali had anticipated this and, through the constant stream of received messages, he was even more aware of the current state of Black Wind Village.
Now, his title had also changed to Black Wind Village Chief, often referred to as Great Master, Leader, and so on.
The change in title not only caused his Qi-Blood and Inner Qi to increase, but his reputation in the martial world also improved significantly, breaking through to a new level.
Opening his attribute template, one could see his complete attributes, and by clicking on the small attached template, one could clearly see his current Qi-Blood and Inner Qi.
"Jiang Dali [Black Wind Village Chief (Inner Qi Realm Big Boss), Qi-Blood 5000/5000, Inner Qi 150/150]
Realm: Inner Qi Realm (2/300)
Status: Black Wind Village Chief / Iron Word Killer of Qingyi Building
Reputation in Martial World: Notorious (50/1000)
Pet: Sword Gate Demon Hawk
Martial Arts: Hidden Weapon: Mortal Middle Grade 'Sky Rain' (slightly successful at Level 3)
Hand-to-hand: Basic 'Four Directions Fist', Basic 'Six Paths Leg', Basic 'Eight-direction Palm'
Saber Skill: Mortal Middle Grade 'Tiger Evil Golden Ring Saber' (slightly successful at Level 3)
Cross Training: Mortal Lower Grade 'Iron Cloth Shirt' (slightly successful at Level 3)
Qinggong: Mortal Lower Grade 'Eight Steps to Catch a Cicada' (Initial Insight at Level 2)
Internal Cultivation Methods: Basic Internal Skill
Cultivation Points: 33
Potential Points: 32"
"The difference between the title of a Big Boss and a small Boss is really quite significant. Originally, my Qi-Blood only reached 3500 after breaking through to the Inner Qi Realm, and my Inner Qi had just started cultivating at 100 points.
Once the identity was changed, and the title became that of a Big Boss, my Qi-Blood immediately jumped to 5000, and my Inner Qi increased by 50 points.
This significantly enhances my combat capabilities."
Jiang Dali was very satisfied with his current state as the village chief.
Although becoming the village chief was the first and easiest part of his long-planned blueprint,
now that he had actually taken this step, he still felt a great sense of achievement.
As a player, he always found the Big Boss experts of the same level the most troublesome.
Even though both were of the same realm and the player might have stronger Inner Qi and martial skills, they were no match for a Boss.
The main reason for this was the Bosses' dauntingly long blood bars that gave players headaches.
Now, he too had become what he once loathed, with a blood bar at least ten times longer than those of ordinary mountain bandits of the same realm. Combined with the Horizontal Training technique of the Iron Cloth Shirt, standing at the door, he was like an unstoppable bulldozer.
He then recalled two new prompts he received today.
"You have become the Black Wind Village Chief, gaining the loyalty of 122 mountain bandits within the village, and you are now a legitimate mountain bandit leader. Your reputation in the martial world +100."
"Your reputation in the martial world has entered the Notorious phase. Entering the territory of any Prefecture or famous sect has a certain chance of being pursued and captured by righteous individuals or court officials."
"Heh, it seems that I am officially on the blacklist of some major sects and court agencies now.
That's why many mountain bandit leaders are very low key, scarcely ever leaving their territories, fearing that one misstep outside might lead to their untimely death with no one to claim their bodies."
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Jiang Dali mockingly said to himself before opening the newly added faction option under the attribute template to check.
"Faction: Black Wind Village
Location: Under the jurisdiction of Hui Prefecture, Mengyin County, main mountain of Black Wind Mountain
Faction Members: Mountain Bandits 122 (Common mountain bandits are 113, Gathering Power Realm mountain bandit sub-leaders 8, Gathering Power Realm mountain bandit Second Master 1)
Major voices: Great Master Jiang Dali, Second Master Xiong Ba
Cohesion: 55 (When cohesion drops below 50, there could be mountain bandit defections and rebellions)
Wealth: One gold bar, 440 taels of silver, 53 strings of copper coins, a box of silver jewelry worth 120 taels, miscellaneous grain, oil, salt, liquor, water, cured meat
Weapons: 23 rusty Iron Sabers, 18 rusty Short Axes, 9 wooden shields, one 80-stone bow, three tubes of arrows
Savings Resources: Four acres of fallow farmland
Mounts: Five inferior horses, one Da Wan Steed
Current Faction State: Good
Faction Level: Inferior (Requirements for the next level upgrade: 1 person in Outer Qi Realm, 2 strong people in Inner Qi Realm, 40 people in Gathering Power Realm, 5 special talents, village chief reputation reaches the infamous stage, killing one large ferocious beast)."
"Although it's just a faction as insignificant as a sesame seed, it is nonetheless the foundation of my new beginning in this life. After those players truly arrive tomorrow, leveraging their strength, it won't be difficult for Black Wind Village to develop."
Jiang Dali stroked his chin while pondering in the room.
From the current state of the faction, after a power shift in the village, the cohesion had significantly decreased, even bordering on the possibility of mountain bandit defections and rebellions.
Jiang Dali believed that no one would dare to rebel in front of him, yet defection was quite possible.
Like those mountain bandits who were previously close to the Life-stealing Scholar, they might, under uneasy hearts, end up doing something foolish.
The urgent priority was therefore to enhance the village's cohesion.
And in Jiang Dali's view, this cohesion wasn't really difficult to solve.
Mountain bandits, after all, are desperate folks who are fine with eating bread if there's no meat, a group of simpletons who would bravely follow into flames and up mountains as long as they're well-compensated.
Everything depended largely on benefits.
Jiang Dali reckoned it had been a while since he last led these followers to get some spoils.
Mainly because there wasn't much loot in Mengyin County either, with only a few caravans passing by to pay a toll twice a year.
And under orders from above and the court's authority, in recent years Black Wind Village merely extorted some protection fees from the neighboring villagers for livelihood, but activities like burglary, robbery, or abducting girls were strictly off-limits.
Thus, a group of mountain bandits was also constrained by poverty, with only a few top bosses living comfortably.
Just needing to find something profitable for these followers to do, they'd be like husbands going to bed with their wives, a group of men eagerly invigorated, and boosting cohesion effortlessly.
"On normal days, it's hard for me to find profitable tasks for these people, but soon the all-capable players will arrive, and won't that solve the issue."
Jiang Dali's mouth curved into a slight smile as he looked out the window at the night sky.
At that moment, it was a brilliant full moon, self-luminous, with stars arrayed against a deep and clear night.
He turned, donned his tiger skin cloak, and stepped out of the house, moonlight casting a hard, metallic sheen on his chest that seemed carved from stone.
Outside in the courtyard, the guards waiting on duty respectfully greeted him as Great Master.
Jiang Dali nodded slightly and, using qinggong, he moved into the woods and whistled.
Instantly, a large Demon Hawk descended from the sky, its iron claws like Cold Hooks, carrying a metal tube.
Jiang Dali took the tube, opened it, and read the scroll from Qingyi Building.
"Forgotten! Under the command of Lin Mansion is a man surnamed Li from a Commandery!"
Jiang Dali's pupils constricted, "Forgotten... King... It is indeed Ru Yang Royal Mansion. Tracing it down like this, the top of Black Wind Village is just a powerful family from the Commandery.
And above them lies Lin Mansion, and above Lin Mansion, the famous Prince Ruyang.
Just as I had anticipated.
Since the Dragon Gate Escort Agency has already been targeted by Ru Yang Royal Mansion, this San from the Western Vajra Sect probably won't be long before making a move.
According to the timeline, this is also one of the few major events after the players arrive..."
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