Luli shook his head. He had only been in this world for a few days, and if he had known, it would have been quite peculiar.
"The expert broke six strongholds within a month, causing someone from the depths of Tianmang Mountain to emerge. That person not only killed the expert but also wiped out his entire family. It was said to be a gruesome sight."
At this moment, Luli naturally understood Chen Kang's implication.
"Chen Kang, do you know what the situation is in the depths of Tianmang Mountain?"
"I've only heard that in the depths of Tianmang Mountain, there are twelve strongholds, known as the Twelve Strongholds of Tianmang. Each stronghold is controlled by a peerless martial artist. The bandits around Tianmang Mountain are all under their control. Every year, someone from Tianmang Mountain goes to each stronghold to collect annual tributes. I used to be the leader of the Blackwater Stronghold, so I know. I've never been to the depths of Tianmang Mountain, but these envoys visit every year."
"Oh, how powerful are these peerless martial artists you mentioned?"
"I don't know, but every person who collects tributes seems unfathomable in strength. However, there was a stronghold that refused to contribute, and a single person who came to collect tribute killed everyone. The leader of that stronghold was already at the pinnacle of the Meridian Connection Realm!"
Luli took a deep breath, surprised that even these bandits had their own set of rules.
The outlaws on Tianmang Mountain were actually under the control of the Twelve Strongholds of Tianmang.
Chen Kang was anxious to find him because he was afraid Luli would provoke the existence in the depths of Tianmang Mountain and bring disaster upon himself.
The current strength of the existence in the depths of Tianmang Mountain was unknown. However, even a casual envoy had the strength to easily annihilate a stronghold with a Meridian Connection Realm pinnacle expert.
The strength of the Twelve Strongholds of Tianmang was evident. Compared to them, Luli was like an ant facing a tall building.
Today, Luli's mood was not good. For him, killing mountain bandits and river bandits was not just for practicing sword skills; fierceness was his only source of strength.
Without fierceness, how could he exchange things from the system? Without fierceness, how could he strengthen himself? At this moment, Luli's greatest reliance was the system.
The strength in the depths of Tianmang Mountain was unknown, so Luli decided not to take risks for now. Although wealth and danger go hand in hand, Luli was not a reckless person. If he could avoid danger, he would temporarily steer clear.
Currently, the most important thing was strength. With strength, conquering the Twelve Strongholds of Tianmang would be a breeze.
Luli checked the silver in the system storage space and some items that could be easily exchanged for silver. After a brief calculation, he found that he had almost ten thousand taels.
Having looted all the assets of the Feihu Stronghold and the Blackwater Stronghold, having nearly ten thousand taels was not surprising.
Luli went directly to the pharmacy and bought a hundred Qi Nourishing Pills. This stuff was consumed rapidly.
Just these hundred Qi Nourishing Pills cost a thousand taels. If Luli hadn't looted two strongholds before, he wouldn't even dare to think about it. Although Lutian Xiong instructed the steward to provide Luli with cultivation resources every month, it was still not much.
Practicing martial arts required massive resources, and it was no wonder that some talented individuals couldn't step into the martial path even if they had the qualifications, simply due to the lack of resources.
After placing a few vials into the system storage space, Luli returned home.
These days, Luli had been staying low-key. He had only left the Luli residence once because he had run out of Qi Nourishing Pills.
On this day, Luli stood in the courtyard, looking at the pear tree not far away.
The first move of the Severing Wave Seven Blades was finally completed. The blade energy was released, and the cut on the pear tree was as smooth as a mirror.
After several days of cultivation, exhausting two hundred Qi Nourishing Pills and four Qi Condensation Pills, Luli finally broke through to the Fourth Stage of the Meridian Connection Realm. At this point, the first move of the Severing Wave Seven Blades was also completed.
Luli's breakthrough to the Fourth Stage of the Meridian Connection Realm was not just reaching this realm. The cultivation method he practiced now, the primary cultivation technique, had more meridians opened than the ancestral technique of the Luli family.
Through practicing the primary cultivation technique, Luli's spiritual energy purity and density were astonishing. Even in terms of the amount of spiritual energy stored within his body, it was probably unmatched by an ordinary Fifth Stage of the Meridian Connection Realm cultivator.
Of course, Luli had consumed a massive amount of elixirs for this. If he hadn't looted two strongholds before, with Luli's financial situation, he wouldn't have been able to sustain his consumption.
The pear tree fell in the courtyard, disturbing two maids and his mother.
"Xiaoqing, find some servants to chop down this pear tree and use it for firewood!"
"Young Master, why cut down a perfectly good pear tree!"
"Because I don't like pear trees!"
"Oh, I'll find someone right away!"
Xiaoqing quickly ran out of the courtyard. Luli went to his mother, helping her into the house.
Outside the house, Luli casually grabbed Xiaozhao's hand, held it in his own, and looked closely.
"You've gotten much better these days, not as thin! Come, let me take a good look!"
"How does Young Master want to look?"
Xiaozhao said softly, her voice like a mosquito's hum. After speaking, she suddenly lowered her head, her face as red as if she were drunk.
"How do you want me to look at it!"
Seeing her shy appearance, Luli deliberately teased her.
"Go inside and take a look, alright?"
Hearing the maid say this, Luli thought that he might have influenced these maids. Going inside to look, cough cough, Luli felt that this maid seemed to have some bold ideas.
"Just look here!"
Luli didn't tease her anymore, fearing that something might happen later. Luli scrutinized Xiaozhao, and indeed, this girl had gained some weight in the past few days, making her body even more irresistible.
At this moment, she was still a bit thin. In a few days, if she kept gaining weight, there might be a trend of causing chaos in the nation.
Xiaoqing had already brought people with axes. The pear tree was dismembered by several servants, and Luli watched.
In the main residence of the Luli family, Lutian Xiong was sitting on a high-backed chair. A cup of spring tea emitted a misty tea fragrance. There was no one else around, only the old steward Yan Song standing on the side.
This old steward had served Lutian Xiong since he was a young
man, for decades. He was the most trusted confidant of Lutian Xiong. His status in the Luli family was extraordinary. Even if the young master of the Luli family saw him on ordinary days, he had to show some respect.
"The day of the three-family martial arts competition is getting closer. I wonder how our Luli family will fare this year. This involves the significant matter of dividing the power in East Lin City for the next three years."
"Master, there is no need to worry. Although Young Master Yan can't participate this year due to his age, with Young Masters Xiong and Lin, our Luli family will surely take the lead this year! There are also several other family members on the side branches with considerable strength, so achieving a good ranking is not a problem!"
"Since it's just the two of us here, there's no need for such formalities. As for the Lin family, I'm not worried. In these years since Miss Ke married into our Luli family, our relationship with the Lin family has improved a lot."
Speaking to this point, Lutian Xiong sighed.
"I heard that the madman from the Xu family has returned. That madman has been saying that he will wipe out our Luli family this year."
When it came to the madman from the Xu family, both Lutian Xiong and the old steward Yan Song frowned.