Expanding Territory

"The brothers captured and taken to Black Wind Stronghold are really something, hahaha! This stronghold's way of recruiting is pretty unique too—actually forcibly dragging people up the mountain to become bandits. Take care, fellow bandit brothers."

"Don't laugh at them either. They're much luckier than us, okay? I'm still grinding miserably for silver so I can join a martial arts school in the county town."

"A small force like Black Wind Stronghold isn't it supposed to be something we, the batch destined to become young heroes, will wipe out? It actually knows to recruit players and develop itself?"

"This can't be true. There's a bandit den outside our city too. We ran into those bandits today and got killed, but we weren't recruited into their stronghold."

"Maybe different regions work differently. Bandits across the realm aren't all one family. But for now, Black Wind Stronghold in Mengyin County near Hui City seems like a relatively easy force to join. You can get in touch with Jianghu forces faster and learn martial arts."

"It's just a trash minor force. Even if I'm joining a sect, I'd join a famous, prestigious great sect. What the hell is Black Wind Stronghold?"

"You guy upstairs called Three Wave Tips, I, Central Plains Eyeing Cracks, have remembered your name. Don't let me see you in the Jianghu, or you'd better watch out for any cracks on your body."

""

On the Jianghu Forum, quite a few players were discussing Black Wind Stronghold fervently, arguing without end.

Some believed that joining Black Wind Stronghold was an excellent choice in the early stages. They could use it as a springboard to accumulate strength and cultivation, then make other choices once they had grown stronger.

Others were more high-spirited, believing Black Wind Stronghold was a trash force unworthy of joining.

Central Plains Eyeing Cracks and the others who had joined Black Wind Stronghold naturally stole the spotlight. They entered the sight of many players and drew the attention of players still in villages and towns around Mengyin County.

Jiang Dali was quite pleased by this.

Black Wind Stronghold's name had now begun to spread. This was the first step of his plan.

Next, he needed to expand its influence and compete with the official forces and the great famous sects of the Jianghu world for this fresh blood of players.

At the same time, he had to expand his territory and develop resource points.

For that, he would need to continue relying on the players' strength.

Near midnight.

Central Plains Eyeing Cracks and the other players had all completed their task of familiarizing themselves with the stronghold. They came outside Jiang Dali's courtyard to hand in their tasks.

The group of players all watched Jiang Dali emerge from the courtyard with curious, bold eyes.

Seeing his name, green to the point of purple and indicating extreme danger, they were all nervous while entertaining unrealistic fantasies.

If this Great BOSS were killed, how many Cultivation Points and Potential Points would they get?

And thoughts such as, once they became powerful in the future, they would definitely gang up on this Great Mountain Lord.

Jiang Dali had once been a player himself. One look at their expressions told him exactly what they were thinking. He chuckled inwardly, while keeping a stern expression as he said coldly.

"You little brats have all performed fairly well. Since you've already familiarized yourselves with the stronghold, starting tomorrow, you'll develop the stronghold together and help recruit more young, strong, ambitious people for it."

"Another task?"

The players were stunned for a moment, then delighted as they all received a new task prompt: "Recruit Personnel."

"So our stronghold is actually going to keep recruiting people? What are we trying to do? Prepare for a rebellion?"

"Hahaha, this task came way too quickly and is way too easy. As long as we recruit one person, we get a reward of 10 Cultivation Points and Potential Points. Recruit five, and we can even get 50 Contribution Points."

"Who said our Black Wind Stronghold has no future? I think Black Wind Stronghold is the strongest force in the early game."

Watching the players accept the task and leave in high spirits, Jiang Dali silently opened the Jianghu Forum.

Sure enough, he saw that Central Plains Eyeing Cracks and the others had already posted news of Black Wind Stronghold's recruitment efforts, along with the benefits they had currently received in Black Wind Stronghold—the advantage of tasks.

The Comprehensive Martial World was unlike an ordinary game.

This world leaned far more toward reality, so players had to discover all kinds of tasks themselves.

Someone like him, who actively issued tasks to guide players and led them to grow stronger, was almost one of a kind at this stage.

Thus, relying on the advantages of tasks and a low threshold for entry, together with the players' publicity, Jiang Dali was confident he could quickly attract players from nearby cities, strengthen Black Wind Stronghold, and strengthen himself as well.

After players completed the tasks he issued, he would also receive a small amount of Cultivation Points and Potential Points.

Just now, as the players handed in their tasks, Jiang Dali had already received 12 Cultivation Points and Potential Points.

"For now, there are still too few players. Besides gaining some Potential Points and Cultivation Points by issuing them tasks, I can also teach them martial arts.

When they need to advance their martial arts, they'll need to spend Potential Points and Cultivation Points with me. That is also a path to becoming stronger."

Jiang Dali calculated inwardly and, for the time being, did not spend Potential Points to improve his martial arts.

Martial arts only increased in power after breaking through to a new realm.

Simply raising their progress would not bring any substantive change.

At present, only the Tiger Fiend Golden Ring Saber Technique among his martial arts was nearing a breakthrough. It was about to reach the fourth realm, the level of effortless mastery, but doing so would still require at least 40 Potential Points.

Besides consuming Potential Points, martial arts could also be slowly improved through daily practice or actual combat with others.

Time passed.

In the blink of an eye, it was noon the next day.

As Jiang Dali was enjoying his lunch, he received good news from the players.

Several more people had been successfully recruited and were currently waiting in the small clearing outside the stronghold.

Second Boss Xiong Ba asked in confusion, "Brother, shouldn't our stronghold already have enough men? Usually, there aren't any grand situations for us to deal with, so why are you recruiting so many people?

"These newly arrived lads all look tender-skinned and soft-fleshed, without much ability. More people means more mouths to feed. Other than eating, they don't seem to be of much use."

Jiang Dali chuckled and pointed at the wine and dishes on the table. "I'm not content with merely eating this tableful of food and drink. You're right about one thing: our Black Wind Stronghold usually has no grand situations to deal with. What does that mean?

"It means there isn't much fat and oil to be had in this patch of land.

"The martial world is so vast, while our Mengyin County is so small. Black Wind Stronghold is even more insignificant.

"I've heard that Chongfeng Mountain Stronghold and Tuoshui Mountain Stronghold in the neighboring counties are both doing very well. One has mineral veins, and the other has medicinal mountains.

"I want a bite of the meat in their bowls too!"

Xiong Ba froze. "Brother, y-you want to swallow up Chongfeng Mountain Stronghold and Tuoshui Mountain Stronghold too?

"Th-this... Ghost Blade Ji Ming of Tuoshui Mountain Stronghold and the Martial Maidens of Chongfeng Mountain Stronghold are not people to be lightly provoked."

Jiang Dali smiled without quite smiling and took a sip of tea. "Do I look like someone who's easy to provoke?"

Xiong Ba was left speechless and gave a dry laugh.

He had forgotten that the man before him was also a ruthless figure not to be trifled with.

Jiang Dali said calmly, "The brothers watching the official road have already spotted people from the Dragon Gate Escort Agency. This time, we'll deal with Du Dajin first and thoroughly make our name known."

"Du Dajin has arrived already? How is he so fast?"

Xiong Ba's whole body tensed, and he felt somewhat uneasy. Yet when he saw Jiang Dali's fierce, tiger-backed and bear-waisted figure, he inexplicably felt reassured and filled with an equally inexplicable confidence.

"Forget it. Seeing how calm Brother Dali is, he must already have a way to repel the enemy."

Jiang Dali waved a hand and instructed those nearby, "Bring all those newcomers here."

Please send a small reward wave to fill out the fan rankings. Where are Black Wind Stronghold's brothers? The goal isn't to earn this bit of money; I mainly want to see how much recognition there is from new readers. At present, those willing to take spots on the rankings are all old readers—there are only two new readers. It's like streamers on Douyin asking viewers to wear their fan badges, just for peace of mind. After all, while Jiajia is good at writing this kind of story, this book is still something of a transition. I hope readers who like it will give it plenty of support—claim a fan spot and give me some confidence.