Liangshan Stronghold's Confidence

Cloud River Stronghold.

Inside the council hall.

A middle-aged man with refined features, but a ruthless glint in his eyes, sat in the seat of honor.

Qin Shujian sat calmly to one side.

Niu Feng sat below him.

Aside from them.

Two other men sat in the council hall, both Leaders of Cloud River Stronghold.

Xu Yuanming, seated at the head, gave Qin Shujian a slightly grave look before turning his gaze to Niu Feng. "Chief Niu, have you come to Cloud River Stronghold today on some business?"

After speaking.

He kept his eyes fixed on Niu Feng.

Cloud River Stronghold and Mingai Mountain were not on particularly good terms.

Now Niu Feng had come to Cloud River Stronghold with just one companion, which struck Xu Yuanming as unusual.

After all—

In his place, Xu Yuanming would never have ventured into the tiger's den like this.

One careless mistake.

If the other side detained him, he would lose everything.

Moreover.

Xu Yuanming stole an almost imperceptible glance at Qin Shujian.

He did not recognize this man.

Yet anyone who could accompany Niu Feng, and apparently command some respect from him, was far from ordinary.

Until he understood their true intentions, Xu Yuanming could not afford to act rashly.

With a faint smile, Niu Feng cupped his hands and said, "I no longer deserve to be called chief. Mingai Mountain has now joined Liangshan Stronghold. I am merely one of its foot soldiers."

"Chief Niu, are you serious?" Xu Yuanming's heart lurched, and a trace of shock appeared on his composed face.

His first reaction was that.

Niu Feng was playing him.

But when he saw the solemn seriousness on Niu Feng's face, he was no longer so certain.

Suddenly!

"Liangshan Stronghold!"

Xu Yuanming was startled.

When Niu Feng mentioned Liangshan Stronghold, the name had sounded vaguely familiar.

Now, as his thoughts raced.

He immediately connected it to a letter he had received yesterday.

That letter had also been signed by Liangshan Stronghold.

Without knowing why.

Xu Yuanming felt shaken, and his gaze flicked almost imperceptibly toward Qin Shujian.

"This is Chief Qin Shujian of Liangshan Stronghold!" Niu Feng introduced him at just the right moment.

At those words.

Xu Yuanming thought, Just as I suspected.

Remembering the contents of the letter, his heart sank.

He had originally paid Liangshan Stronghold no heed whatsoever. But now that Mingai Mountain had submitted outright, Xu Yuanming felt an immense, unseen pressure.

"I have long heard of your reputation, Chief Qin. Seeing you today, you truly have an imposing presence!"

"You're too kind, Chief Xu," Qin Shujian replied blandly.

At this.

Xu Yuanming found him even harder to read.

As the saying went, those who came meant trouble; those who meant no trouble did not come.

Mingai Mountain's submission to Liangshan Stronghold had already caught him off guard. Now this mysterious chief of Liangshan Stronghold had appeared as well, placing him under even greater pressure.

"Chief Qin..."

"You should know why I've come, Chief Xu."

The moment Xu Yuanming began speaking, Qin Shujian cut him off.

Ignoring his sour expression, Qin Shujian got straight to the point. "Mingai Mountain received yesterday's letter, and so did Cloud River Stronghold. Mingai Mountain has now chosen to submit. What is your choice, Chief Xu?"

Those words left Xu Yuanming no room to say anything he had intended.

Silence immediately settled over the council hall.

As for the two Leaders of Cloud River Stronghold, they might as well have been invisible. Neither had spoken a single word from the outset.

Xu Yuanming clenched his fists out of sight and suppressed his anger. "As far as I know, Cloud River Stronghold has never offended you, Chief Qin, nor have we had any dealings with Liangshan Stronghold.

"Yet today, you've come up our mountain to force our hand. We are all fellow outlaws. Doesn't this violate our code?"

"Now that the Otherworlders have descended, danger is already at our doorstep. Yet the forces of Rubble Forest remain divided. They will never be able to stop the Otherworlders' advance.

"Before long, when the Otherworlders rise, both Cloud River Stronghold and Chaotic Gold Mountain will be trampled underfoot.

"To change that outcome, we must unite all our strength.

"There should be only one voice in Rubble Forest."

Qin Shujian spoke with ringing conviction.

The threat posed by the players.

No one understood it better than he did.

They could not truly die, and they leveled up quickly.

Given a little time, the players would overwhelm not just Cloud River Stronghold—even his Liangshan Stronghold might not be able to withstand them.

There was only one way to hold the players back.

He had to advance faster than they did, stay out in front, and always keep them beneath him.

Qin Shujian's words left Xu Yuanming silent.

Naturally, he had recognized the threat posed by the Otherworlders too.

Otherwise.

He would not have been moving toward an alliance with Mingai Mountain and Chaotic Gold Mountain.

However.

Though he did not deny the danger of the Otherworlders, he still felt Qin Shujian was being alarmist.

"I need some time to consider your words, Chief Qin. Could you grant me a few days?"

Until he learned the extent of Qin Shujian's strength, Xu Yuanming had no intention of openly falling out with him.

However.

Xu Yuanming wanted to stall for time, but Qin Shujian had no intention of allowing it.

So the moment he finished speaking, his request was rejected.

"Cloud River Stronghold has only fifteen minutes. If you still refuse after that, Chief Xu, don't blame me for showing no mercy."

"You..."

Xu Yuanming's face flushed with anger.

But when he met Qin Shujian's cold gaze and saw Niu Feng watching him like a predator, he forcibly suppressed his fury.

He was not afraid of Niu Feng alone.

Regardless of whether there was a difference in their strength.

This was Cloud River Stronghold. Niu Feng could not stir up much trouble here.

The one Xu Yuanming truly feared was the chief of Liangshan Stronghold, whose strength he could not fathom.

Anyone capable of making a man like Niu Feng submit outright could not be underestimated. He was very likely an expert at the entering martial sixth layer, or possibly even higher.

Beside them, Niu Feng also remained silent.

Only an unusual gleam flashed through his eyes.

He did not warn Xu Yuanming, nor did he offer a single unnecessary word.

If possible, Niu Feng would rather Xu Yuanming refused.

Then Qin Shujian would undoubtedly destroy Cloud River Stronghold.

That would indirectly leave him with one fewer rival in the future.

Still.

That was merely wishful thinking.

What happened would depend on Xu Yuanming's choice and Qin Shujian's decision.

Seven and a half minutes passed.

After his expression shifted repeatedly, Xu Yuanming finally managed to regain his composure. Looking at Qin Shujian, he said, "I would like to know what makes you believe you can unite Rubble Forest, Chief Qin.

"As far as I know, Chaotic Gold Mountain very likely has an expert at the entering martial sixth layer too, and its forces are already formidable.

"I do not deny your strength, Chief Qin, but you should know that Chaotic Gold Mountain is no easy target."

"It seems... you still lack confidence in me, Chief Xu."

Qin Shujian shook his head, seemingly both rueful and resigned.

"Since you lack confidence, Chief Xu, I'll let you see exactly what gives Liangshan Stronghold its confidence."

As his words fell!

Boom!

A powerful aura erupted, as though a tiger's roar were echoing through the mountain forests.