Advancing a faction's rank was not only a hurdle Black Wind Stronghold needed to face, but also the key to Jiang Dali completing the main quest, "Greenwood Overlord."
The "Greenwood Overlord" quest required him to become the Greenwood Overlord of a region—each region measured by a commandery city—and also command a ninth-rank faction.
Black Wind Stronghold was currently still an unranked faction.
Therefore, Jiang Dali had to complete the faction's promotion before the quest would recognize his achievement and grant him its generous rewards.
That very day, Jiang Dali sought out Wu Yunhong once more.
Her injuries had already recovered seven or eight tenths, though her complexion was still not quite right. When she saw Jiang Dali, there was even a hint of excitement in her expression.
"I knew you'd come looking for me again. But even if you hadn't, I would've come looking for you. I've been waiting these past few days for my injuries to heal—I want another spar with you."
"You're not my match. There's no need to spar again. Being a woman won't make me pull my punches. I might kill you by mistake."
Jiang Dali said this as lightly as drifting clouds and a gentle breeze.
Wu Yunhong's gaze shifted. "You're afraid? Could it be that you can't bear to kill me?"
Jiang Dali glanced at the woman. "You've broken through to the Outer Qi Realm. That's nothing much in the martial world, but in Black Wind Stronghold, you can still be considered somebody."
The implication behind his words was obvious: she had value to be used.
The corner of Wu Yunhong's lips curled up in a smile. "You're the one who made this possible. If you hadn't forced me to break through the mysterious pass under the crisis of life and death and advance