Chapter 1406: Chapter 1407: The First Bucket of Gold
The group ascended the mountain.
Li Xiaobai dragged the mountain bandit leader over, asking word by word: “Big Brother, what are the cultivation levels of the people in this mountain stronghold?”
“Only the Great Family Head has a Transcendent First Layer cultivation, while the rest are merely in the Transcendental Realm or Mortal Realm.”
The bandit leader, visibly trembling from Li Xiaobai’s friendly smile, was terrified. In his eyes, this person was undoubtedly a ruthless figure, backed by a major and formidable sect. Only someone with such backing would dare provoke the Extreme Evil Pure Land so blatantly. He strongly suspected that this man was an Outer Domain Cultivator; he had heard many rumors about them—unpredictable and notoriously harsh—and that several of their major sects could rival the Extreme Evil Pure Land.
“What cultivation level are you?”
Li Xiaobai continued interrogating.
“Reporting to the esteemed lord, I am merely a common errand runner with cultivation at Transcendental Realm First Layer…”
The bandit leader replied somewhat embarrassedly.
“Then, what cultivation levels do you think they possess?”
Li Xiaobai’s eyes swept toward Ma Niubi and others and asked an important question.
“The two in the lead appear to be an outstanding pair, full of vigor, unmatched by ordinary people. Their cultivation is likely at Transcendental Realm Third Layer. It’s rare to encounter such prodigal geniuses at such a young age!”
The bandit leader cautiously glanced at Fu Tiantian and Ma Niubi, his tone lacking confidence.
“You bastard! Who are you calling an ‘outstanding pair’?”
Ma Niubi snapped furiously upon hearing the comment.
“Y-Yes, yes, I’m the bastard. I shouldn’t have speculated about the esteemed lord’s lifestyle.”
The bandit leader flinched fearfully, rushing to bow and clasp his hands together.
The words were spoken without malice but taken seriously. No one present bothered to dispute the bandit leader’s remark, understanding from his speech a rudimentary division of cultivation realms. In the Immortal Gods Realm, there was no Saint Realm—or rather, what they considered Saint Realm would be called Transcendental Realm in the Immortal Gods Realm—whereas Li Xiaobai had ascended further to the Transcendent Realm.
“How powerful is the Transcendental Realm in the Extreme Evil Pure Land?”
After a moment of contemplation, Li Xiaobai finally voiced the question. He knew it might raise suspicion, but it was their only way to gather information about the Immortal Gods Realm.
“Uh… it is merely the initial departure from the Mortal Realm, esteemed lord. Why do you ask…”
“Ahem, but I’ve heard that the Outer Domain is vastly different from the Extreme Evil Pure Land, where many cultivators possess ancient cultivation techniques unique to their region, very unlike ours…”
The bandit stammered and carefully chose his words, feeling conflicted as to why he was being asked such dangerous questions. A mere Transcendental Realm cultivator was a trivial existence in the Immortal Gods Realm, a known fact—he dared not lie yet telling the truth risked offending these powerful figures. He was caught between a rock and a hard place.
“Got it, lead the way.”
Li Xiaobai stopped his questioning, deciding not to delve further. There was no need for more. Not only Ma Niubi and the others but even his own meager cultivation wouldn’t be enough to gain a foothold in the Immortal Gods Realm.
In the Central Origin Realm, they were Saint Realm powerhouses, their cultivation mighty and peerless. Yet in the Immortal Gods Realm, they were merely at the Transcendent Realm, which had just barely broken free of the Mortal Realm’s circle—a glaring indication that they were cannon-fodder level cultivators!
Fortunately, the strength of the cultivators in the stronghold wasn’t particularly formidable. Following the bandit leader, the group arrived at the mountain’s peak gate.
The stronghold was modestly constructed, with a crude wooden gate flanked by rocky hills scattered with simple stone dwellings. Etched on the gate were three large characters: “Green-Red Gang.”
“Esteemed lords, this is the stronghold,”
the bandit leader said.
“What cultivation level does your Great Family Head possess?”
Li Xiaobai casually produced a longsword and majestically swept his Sword Qi, altering the characters “Green-Red Gang” on the wooden gate to “Villian’s Guild.”
The bandit leader’s eyelid twitched madly, his panic written all over his face. He promptly replied: “Reporting to the esteemed lord, the Great Family Head has a cultivation level at Transcendent First Layer.”
“Master, let’s just go in and tie them all up. With our strength, we can easily deal with them!”
Ma Niubi offered enthusiastically, ready to charge ahead.
“No rush. Watch your master’s move.”
Li Xiaobai raised the longsword high above his head and then swung it forcefully forward.
In an instant, dust billowed within the stronghold, shadows darted everywhere, and countless figures surged to the forefront. Each one then dropped to their knees, raising both hands above their heads in a posture of worship.
Hundred Percent Barehanded Blade Catch—invincible against anyone below Transcendent Second Layer—instantly brought every opponent to their knees, including the Great Family Head.
Moments later, Li Xiaobai stood surrounded by prostrate cultivators, all dressed in shabby clothes with an aura of concealed strength.
Leading them was a bald man, whose ferocious demeanor and menacing aura suggested anything but generosity.
“What happened?”
“Who’s responsible? Who dares suppress my cultivation power? What kind of demonic technique is this?”
“Who is that young man? Why is he outside our stronghold? Why attack us?”
The bandits were panicked and confused, unable to figure out Li Xiaobai’s origins. Under his sword technique, they found their bodies uncontrollable, their cultivation suppressed, unable to muster any energy.
“Who’s in charge here? Step forward yourself.”
Li Xiaobai asked calmly, his demeanor relaxed.
“I… I am the Great Family Head of the stronghold. May I ask what business this venerable elder has here?”
The bald man was drenched in cold sweat, shocked beyond measure. The methods of this youth had already exceeded his understanding—the fact that one sword stroke had summoned all the cultivators to kneel amazed him. What kind of uncanny trick was this?
“Nothing much, really. Just want to be friends with all of you—and perhaps conduct a population census.”
Li Xiaobai replied lightly.
“Be friends?”
“Population census?”
The Great Family Head looked puzzled, unsure of the other party’s intention.
“A check on your population. I received a report from locals that there was illegal gathering activity here, so I came to inspect. Tell me about yourselves—your situations and sect affiliations.”
Li Xiaobai pressed on, hoping the Great Family Head would voluntarily reveal all he knew about the Immortal Gods Realm.
“Ah, uh…”
“Lord, could it be that you are a major cultivator of the Extreme Evil Pure Land?”
“We, too, are cultivators of the Extreme Evil Pure Land, under the protection of Cangtian City. Our presence here is merely following orders. Perhaps the esteemed lord is mistaken?”
The Great Family Head stammered nervously.
“No mistake—it’s definitely you. This qualifies as illegal gathering. You people live in isolation, with outdated news flow—yet rules are rules. You’ve broken them. Do you understand? Bind them all up and take them away!”
Li Xiaobai waved his hand, and the juniors behind him quickly stepped forward to subdue all the bandits.
Beckoning Fu Tiantian and Ma Niubi closer, he whispered: “Bind them. Investigate where these bandits come from. Later, we’ll sell them to their respective sects. Starting fresh here, the first bucket of gold is crucial!”
“Understood, Master!”