Pei Xuanjing's goal this time was Anping Prefecture. After all, Anping Prefecture was the nearest large city to him and the place where most martial artists based in the Northwest Dao are located.
As for the purpose of this trip, of course, it was for the Blessed Land in the Forbidden Place that would appear more than a year later.
Though repeated simulations of his future didn't look so good regarding the future Blessed Land, they were filled with huge risks and dangers. But with enormous risks always come great rewards.
Whether he would enter the Forbidden Place or not, he must first reach Anping Prefecture and then make a decision.
However, since there was still much time, he didn't press his horse into a gallop; instead, he advanced leisurely.
Though with the help of the life simulator, his martial arts cultivation had been progressing rapidly, Pei Xuanjing would never put all his eggs in one basket.
In the Third Realm of Internal cultivation, true qi nourished the organs and bone marrow. In anticipation of reaching the Realm of Great Mastery, even if he were to swallow gold or iron, he would remain unscathed.
The primary cultivation of a Sixth-grade Martial Artist involved using True Qi to nourish and strengthen their organs.
While studying the Cultivation Method Manuals obtained from Jiang Yan, and refining accumulated Taoyun, he also nourished his organs with True Qi.
He also enjoyed a peaceful journey, advancing during the day, resting at night, observing the changing day and night, understanding nature, and comprehending heaven and earth.
After traveling for over half a month, whether it was refining Cultivation Method Manuals or comprehending nature and heaven and earth, a considerable amount of Taoyun was accumulated.
However, due to the breakthrough in his realm, the amount of Taoyun required for his next life simulation also increased, needing to accumulate up to 2000 points to start.
So far, including previous savings, he only had 1430 points, far from enough to start the next life simulation.
One day, as he passed through a narrow valley while studying the Cultivation Method Manuals, Pei Xuanjing's face suddenly hardened. He put away the manuals and looked ahead.
As a Sixth Grade Martial Artist, he had sharp hearing and caught the sound of the distant fight.
'I remember during the last life simulation, there was such an event. It seemed that a caravan had run into bandits,' thought Pei Xuanjing.
After some contemplation, he chose a concealed path and slowly moved closer.
Pei Xuanjing never considered himself a good person, nor did he think he was a bad one. If someone wanted to harm him, he would retaliate without hesitation. If he encountered an injustice and had the ability to help, he would assist without hesitation, but he could not risk his life for it.
As for the description of this event in the life simulator, where he easily defeated the bandits, Pei Xuanjing did not take it too seriously.
The existence of the life simulator was an accident. Was the self in the life simulation the real him?
Yes, and no. It was merely one of the countless branches of his future life choices.
So even if he encountered these caravans being plundered by bandits, he would still weigh whether he had enough power to help. If these bandits were weak, he would certainly opt to help.
However, if the bandits were too powerful for Pei Xuanjing to handle, he would not intervene, even if the people of these caravans may be innocent.
Robbing the rich to help the poor, carrying out justice on behalf of heaven, ridding the people of harm...
All these words placed on these bandits were nothing more than their guise. They could never conceal the bandits' brutality, disorder, chaos and evil nature.
Standing at a high place, Pei Xuanjing had a clear view of the situation at a distance.
The bandits, armed with various weapons, split into two groups, blockading both ends of the valley and besieging a caravan in the middle.
The bandits obviously outnumbered the caravan, and apart from those fighting, seven or eight more bandits led by a conspicuous bandit leader were stood by.
Two Eighth-grade bandits, five Ninth-grade ones, and the rest were unranked.
After weighing it up, Pei Xuanjing was confident. Not one of the bandits posed a threat to him. It was a perfect time to take action.
Making up his mind, Pei Xuanjing descended from the high ground, returned to the main path, and rushed forward on his horse.
......
"If I can make it back alive, I will file a complaint against those incompetent officials of the Thousands of Households. Have they been napping all this time while so many bandits were gathering here?" Shen Xiang thought fiercely, looking at the arrogant bandits.
He was the third shopkeeper of the Shen's Business Association in Anping Prefecture, born into the second-generation Shen family. Normally, his younger brother Shen Chu would handle the shipment of goods; he didn't have to do it himself.
However, just before departure, Shen Chu accidentally broke his leg, and he had to make the trip himself.
The outward journey passed peacefully, but Shen Xiang had not expected things to go wrong on the way back. They were just a few days away from their destination.
These bandits were unusual, and even when Shen Xiang proposed passage money, they did not agree. It seemed as if they were determined to annihilate them all.
"Shopkeeper, look over there." A bodyguard pointed at one of the valley exits.
Looking along, Shen Xiang saw that the bandits, who had previously been very aggressive, suddenly became disordered, as if they had been attacked.
"Is there a rescue?" Shen Xiang was delighted.
Regardless of who was coming, at least he saw a glimmer of hope for survival.
"Quickly, charge towards there," Shen Xiang ordered immediately.
On the other end of the valley, Pei Xuanjing arrived at a place about a hundred feet away from the bandits. The bandits stationed there noticed him straight away.
After seeing that Pei Xuanjing was alone, the bandit leader immediately ordered a dozen bandits on horses to rush towards him.
Pei Xuanjing didn't dodge; instead, he unsheathed the Pine Pattern Ancient Sword. As a Sixth-grade Martial Artist, he was like a steamroller against these ordinary bandits, none of whom could even slow him down.
Galloping fast, he leaped off his horse when he got within thirty feet of the bandit leader. He surged with True Qi, embedded it in the sword, and with a sword energy three rods long, he executed an airborne attack.
The Eighth-grade bandit leader was beheaded before he could even utter a word.
The bandits, being a ragtag bunch, fled in disorder at the sight of their leader's death.
With the bandits fleeing, Shen Xiang did not instruct his bodyguards to chase them down. Instead, he asked them to help the injured or dead bodyguards. He walked towards Pei Xuanjing.