This world is strictly hierarchical and cruel.
It is said that the Great Qian Emperor was able to unify the world primarily due to the support of Sects and Families.
After establishing the Great Qian Dynasty, he made a promise: the imperial Family would share the world with the Families and Sects.
This led to the current monopolization of various Martial Arts resources.
How difficult it is for ordinary people to become a Martial Artist!
Even if, by some Opportunity, they obtain a single move and step into the Martial Dao, without suitable Martial Arts and resources, it is incredibly difficult to improve.
Unless you are exceptionally talented and join a Sect.
Or you are willing to enter those influential Families and become their servant.
Or you are willing to join the Great Qian Dynasty.
However, joining the Great Qian Dynasty is not easy. Even if you join, to obtain Martial Arts, you not only need to perform meritorious deeds but also need money and connections. Otherwise, you can forget about obtaining those profound Martial Arts.
Just like him now.
After three years in the government, all he received was an unranked Blade Technique.
One can imagine how difficult it is to stand out in this world.
But now, with the System, everything is different.
He can obtain Martial Arts by killing enemies.
The improvement of his Realm can be achieved through experience points.
It's as if he already has a Dao leading to the Peak.
"Holy crap, he's You Lao Liu... It's over, Chief, we're really finished this time..."
Just then, Dong Renyi's panicked voice interrupted his thoughts.
"Don't make such a fuss. Are we just going to wait for death?"
Li Qinglian glanced at him and said calmly.
"No, Chief, those are the fierce bandits from Golden Rooster Stronghold! Golden Rooster Stronghold has already put out a harsh warning: anyone who dares to touch their people will have their entire Family tormented."
Dong Renyi said worriedly.
"No matter. Let them come."
Li Qinglian showed no signs of worry; instead, he seemed a bit eager to try.
Golden Rooster Stronghold is a group of bandits entrenched in the Qingcang Mountain Range, fifty li northeast of Luoshui County.
They have been robbing and plundering there, committing all sorts of evil deeds.
Passing merchant caravans also detested them.
For this, the government had sent troops to suppress the bandits, but the place was empty, and no bandits were found.
After the soldiers left, the bandits reappeared.
Their strategy was: when the officials advance, I hide; when the officials retreat, I emerge.
With no other option, the government issued a huge reward, hoping to deal with the bandits this way.
Unexpectedly, as soon as someone hunted a bandit and claimed the reward, their entire Family was massacred that very night.
The bandits of Golden Rooster Stronghold had issued a harsh warning: anyone who dared to touch their people would face their furious revenge.
Since then, no one dared to easily lay a hand on the bandits of Golden Rooster Stronghold.
"My Qinglian, the bandits of Golden Rooster Stronghold must be supported by a certain Family in our Luoshui County. Otherwise, how would they have such accurate intelligence?"
"Perhaps they are just a front for some Family."
Dong Renyi was anxious and worried for Li Qinglian.
"In such a dark alley, if you don't speak, and I don't speak, who would know? At worst, we just won't claim the reward silver."
Li Qinglian said calmly and continued to stride forward.
"That's right! No one else saw anything here. I was really scared silly."
Dong Renyi slapped his forehead hard and quickly followed.
An hour later.
Li Qinglian's expression was stern, a faint trace of blood on his fair cheek, and an astonishing Evil Qi emanated from him.
He walked with a powerful stride, unapproachable.
The chaos in the Nan River area had also been greatly suppressed.
Li Qinglian's gains were even greater.
【Obtained Thirteen Eagle Claw Strikes】
【Obtained Six Harmonies Palm】
【Obtained Seven Ghost Blades】
...Although the Martial Arts he randomly obtained were unranked, the advantage was that they could be Fused through the System and evolve into ranked Martial Arts.
For him, this was a huge gain.
"Don't come over."
"Help..."
"Hehe, little beauty, this Young Master wants to see who can save you now, and who dares to save you?"
"Such a beautiful woman like you, living in such a dilapidated and shabby place, it's such a pity..."
"That weak scholar of a man of yours, how could he satisfy you? You should just obediently follow this Young Master..."
Suddenly, faint cries of fear and despair, along with the unrestrained filthy words of a dissolute Young Master, came from an alley ahead.
A strong murderous intent flashed in Li Qinglian's eyes, and his footsteps quickened.
"Chief..."
Dong Renyi, who was following behind him, tugged at his long robe, but the words he was about to say got stuck in his throat.
"Don't worry, I won't act rashly. If they are truly beyond our means, we'll just avoid them."
Li Qinglian patted his shoulder and said with a smile.
But for some reason, Dong Renyi saw ruthlessness and surging murderous intent in that smile.
"Alas, Chief has changed a little."
He sighed inwardly, gripping the hilt of his Blade.
"Ah... You damn bitch, how dare you bite this Young Master..."
As they turned the corner and entered the dark, dirty alley, an exasperated voice came from a household.
When Li Qinglian and Dong Renyi hurried to the doorway, a dishevelled woman almost ran into him.
Under the pale moonlight, he saw that she was a woman in her early twenties.
Although dressed in coarse cloth, her skin was like snow.
Her slender, oval face was exquisitely flawless, and coupled with her pitiful, panicked appearance, she was like a small white flower growing out of the mud.
Pure and sorrowful.
When she saw Li Qinglian's attire, she seemed to have found a saviour and knelt down with a thud.
"Sir, please save this humble woman..."
The woman hugged Li Qinglian's calf, speaking with great emotion.
"Hmm? So it's you Black Skin Dogs... You really have no manners at all. Why aren't you quickly bringing the beauty this Young Master fancies over here?"
Before Li Qinglian could respond, an imperious, arrogant voice rang out.
The speaker was a young Young Master in a brocade robe.
His steps were unsteady, his complexion was sallow, and his eyes had dark circles, clearly indicating excessive indulgence.
Beside him was a middle-aged man carrying a sword.
Without even needing the System, he knew the identities of these two.
Fang Zishan, Young Master Fang the Seventh of the Fang Family in Luoshui County, a Ninth-Rank Martial Artist at the Late Stage.
His personal guard, Tie Feng, the Dragon Sword, an Eighth-Rank Martial Artist.
Hearing Fang Zishan's words, the woman looked up at Li Qinglian in disbelief, as if she had completely given up hope, slumping to the ground, her eyes filled with despair.
"Young Master Fang the Seventh, leave now, and I can pretend I saw nothing."
Li Qinglian glanced at the three corpses at the entrance of the dilapidated house and looked calmly at the other party.
Fang Zishan was stunned for a moment, his face turning livid, and he pointed at Li Qinglian, cursing loudly.
"Who the hell do you think you are? How dare you speak to this Young Master like that."
"Even if your Chief Zhang came, he would have to be polite in front of this Young Master. What the hell are you?"
"You like being a good person, do you?"
"Today, this Young Master will have her right in front of you, you Black Skin Dog."
"What can you do to this Young Master?"
Seeing the other party's arrogant and unrestrained demeanor, towering anger surged within Li Qinglian, yet his expression remained terrifyingly calm.