The next day, inside Tiger Head Stronghold...
The five bandit leaders stood nervously before Su Hao. Mu Gang, the bare-chested third-in-command, was particularly tense, his head hung low, as if trying to avoid Su Hao's gaze.
He was terrified.
Last night had been pure torture for him. The Three Corpse Gu in his head had flared up, inflicting unbearable pain. He had blacked out, only to wake up later and learn from his comrades what had transpired.
Now, he couldn't bear to look at Su Hao, fearing that even a glance might trigger another agonizing episode.
"The five of you are to bring the other bandit gangs under your control as quickly as possible. Your primary objective is to locate the gold mine, or any clues leading to it. Huang Cheng," Su Hao addressed the bandit leader, his voice soft yet firm, "I'm offering you a chance to become the leader of the Azure Cloud Mountain Range Bandit Alliance."
"Alliance Leader!"
Huang Cheng's eyes lit up at Su Hao's words.
After last night's events, they knew they were no match for Su Hao and had no choice but to obey.
But now, Su Hao was offering him this opportunity, and it was too tempting to resist.
The Azure Cloud Mountain Range was home to numerous bandit gangs. The idea of forming an alliance had been proposed many years ago but never came to fruition. However, if all the bandits were under his control, becoming the Alliance Leader would be a simple matter.
"We shall complete your task, Master," Huang Cheng and the others vowed in unison.
"Take these with you. If any refuse to submit, don't hesitate to replace them," Su Hao said, placing five black gu insects into their hands.
These were offspring of the Three Corpse Brain Gu, capable of controlling the Three Corpse Gu he had planted in others. Producing these five insects had significantly weakened the Three Corpse Brain Gu, requiring it to consume poisonous mist and venom to recover. It would be some time before Su Hao could use it again.
"Go. I await your good news," Su Hao said, dismissing them with a wave of his hand.
"We won't disappoint you, Master," Huang Cheng and the others replied eagerly, clutching the black gu insects. They then hurried down the mountain, ready to "enlighten" their fellow bandits.
News traveled fast among the bandit gangs of the Azure Cloud Mountain Range, making their task much easier.
As he watched them depart, Su Hao returned to the main hall. He had forbidden anyone except the cooks from entering.
Inside the hall, Su Hao sank into deep thought.
"If Huang Cheng had heard the rumors, then other bandit gangs with a long history in the Azure Cloud Mountain Range must have heard them too. Some of them might even possess clues that could lead me to the gold mine."
Of course, if no clues surfaced, Su Hao would return to Qingyuan County and let the bandits continue their search.
"I haven't checked in today. Time for my daily check-in!" Su Hao remembered.
"Host, this is your fourth check-in this week. You have received 80 check-in points."
"Damn it, no random rewards again!"
Su Hao was starting to feel disheartened. He hadn't received a single random reward in the past six days.
He checked his total check-in points.
Three days ago, he had 740 points. Completing Du Gufan's task had earned him another 200 points. Adding the 1110 points he had accumulated over the past six days, he now had a total of 2050 check-in points.
Perhaps it was time to increase his cultivation.
[Character] Su Hao
[Realm] First Level Earth Realm
[Skills]: Golden Bell Shield: Fourth Level (Upgradeable to Fifth Level for 150 skill points), Powerful Palm Technique, Phantom Yin Finger, Iaijutsu, Brahma's Flame Mantra: Third Level (Upgradeable to Fourth Level for 300 skill points)
[Abilities]: Mental Perception: 10-meter radius (Upgradeable to 50-meter radius for 100 skill points)
[Internal Arts]: Muscle Tendon Changing Classic: First Level (Restores 10% of consumed Gang Qi per minute, provides resistance to weak toxins, and accelerates the healing of injured meridians. Upgradeable to Second Level for 100 skill points)
Turtle Breathing Technique: Fourth Level (Upgradeable to Fifth Level for 500 skill points)
[Inventory]: 2x Silver Lottery Tickets, Some Banknotes, 2x Ordinary Longswords, 1x Baiyi Fruit
"My inventory is so bare," Su Hao sighed, looking at the meager contents. The two ordinary longswords were something he had added himself, specifically for using Li Xunhuan's Iaijutsu.
"If I convert everything into skill points, I'll have 205 points. That's only enough to upgrade Golden Bell Shield, Mental Perception, and Muscle Tendon Changing Classic. Not enough for Brahma's Flame Mantra or Turtle Breathing Technique."
"I'll exchange for five Bronze Lottery Tickets first. I haven't tried my luck in a while."
[500 check-in points consumed. 5x Bronze Lottery Tickets have been added to your inventory.]
"Convert the rest into skill points!"
[1550 check-in points consumed. 155 skill points added. Total skill points: 156.]
"Upgrade Golden Bell Shield to the Fifth Level!"
As Su Hao consumed the skill points, his aura intensified. Golden streams of Gang Qi surged through his meridians, stimulating his muscles and enhancing his physical strength.
"Fifth Level, Internal Qi generation!"
Su Hao's eyes widened in surprise. He could sense his cultivation reaching the peak of the First Level Earth Realm, on the verge of breaking through to the Second Level.
"With a little more cultivation, I can reach the Second Level Earth Realm!"
Su Hao nodded, not finding his rapid progress unusual. After all, he had a cheat.
"Time for a five-draw combo with the Bronze Lottery Tickets!"
Su Hao used all five tickets at once.
[Thank you for your patronage. Thank you for your patronage. Congratulations, Host! You have won a Thousand Heart Fruit. It has been added to your inventory.]
After four consecutive "thank you for your patronage" messages, he finally won something on the last draw.
Looking at the two remaining Silver Lottery Tickets in his inventory, Su Hao felt an urge to use them as well.
Unable to resist the temptation, he used both Silver Lottery Tickets.
[Using 2x Silver Lottery Tickets...]
[Congratulations! You have won 10,000 taels of silver. It has been added to your inventory.]
[Congratulations! You have won a Jing Wuming Experience Card. It has been added to your inventory.]
"A Jing Wuming Experience Card?"
A smile spread across Su Hao's face. This Experience Card was probably similar to the Li Xunhuan Possession Card.
He opened his inventory.
[Thousand Heart Fruit]: A medicinal fruit that can be refined into a pill to heal severe heart meridian injuries.
[Jing Wuming Experience Card]: Upon activation, allows the Host to transform into the martial arts master Jing Wuming, granting access to his full combat prowess without any cultivation restrictions, backlash, or side effects.
"Hmm, access to Jing Wuming's full power without any side effects. Not bad. This could be a valuable trump card!"
The last time Su Hao had used the Li Xunhuan Possession Card, he had pushed himself to the point of exhaustion, nearly dying in the process. It had taken him ages to recover.
But the Jing Wuming Experience Card promised him the full extent of Jing Wuming's power without any drawbacks.
"Based on my experience with the Li Xunhuan Possession Card, this Jing Wuming is likely at the Heaven Realm as well. I was planning on laying low, but it seems fate has other plans for me."
Su Hao muttered to himself, a hint of excitement in his voice.