Qi Hong's face was ashen. He had thought the cliff top was paradise, but as soon as he climbed up, he was captured. Not only were his belongings stolen, but now they wanted to use him against his friend. Qi Hong felt deeply ashamed.
Xiao Qin had clearly warned him not to be careless, to be even more cautious the closer he got to the summit. But he had been blinded by victory, ignoring Xiao Man's warning and rushing to the top, only to fall into their hands!
"Xiao Qin, don't worry about me."
"I wasn't planning on it," Xiao Man said coldly. "Kill him. I don't know him well, we just met not long ago, and I don't have any feelings for him. After you kill him, I'll kill you all."
"Such big talk!" the man sneered. "Do you know who I am, old man?"
"I don't."
"I am Kuang Dao, known as Master Dao." Kuang Dao sheathed his saber and slung it over his shoulder. "For years, I've roamed freely here. No one dares to say they will kill me, Master Dao!"
"Didn't I just say that?" Xiao Man thought. Are these people all idiots?
Kuang Dao was amused, and before he could speak, the young man beside him immediately berated Xiao Man.
"Kid, Master Dao is willing to take you in because he sees you have some skill. In this lawless land, without a force to shelter you, you'll be devoured by others as soon as you leave!"
"Lawless land?" Xiao Man frowned. "This is a lawless land?"
"That's right. You came from the Great Desolation, so you wouldn't know the situation up there." The young man explained, "The Lawless Land governs eight tribes, and the Great Desolation is just one of them. To enter Wuji City, you must first survive the Lawless Land. Those gathered here are all lawless individuals, as well as people who have ascended from the eight tribes."
"And so?"
"Our Master Dao is the leader of the Kuang Dao Association, one of the four major powers in the Lawless Land. With Master Dao's protection, you can survive here."
Xiao Man frowned. "Who are the four major powers of the Lawless Land?"
"The four major powers are the Kuang Dao Association led by Master Dao, the Flying Eagle Gang led by Fu Ning, the Heartless Gate led by Poisonous Lady, and the Eight Directions Sword Sect led by Xiang Jian. Among them, our Kuang Dao Association is the most renowned," the young man said proudly. "Fu Ning is a sissy, a hypocrite. The Poisonous Lady of the Heartless Gate is a venomous shrew with a heart of a snake, she loves to use poison. As for Xiang Jian, besides being good with a sword, he has no other strengths."
Xiao Man nodded thoughtfully.
"What, are you agreeing to join our Kuang Dao Association?"
"What are the benefits of joining you?"
"Didn't I just say? If you join us, we'll provide you with shelter. You just need to offer a token of appreciation," the young man said, rubbing his hands.
"You said earlier that to go to Wuji City, one must survive the Lawless Land. What kind of place is Wuji City?"
"Wuji City is a place everyone here wants to enter," the young man said with longing. "But not everyone can enter. To enter Wuji City, you first need enough skill, and second, you must pass Wuji City's assessment. Otherwise, you'll remain in the Lawless Land forever."
"You haven't passed the assessment?"
"Do you think the Wuji City assessment is something anyone can pass easily?" the young man retorted angrily. "Moreover, the assessment is held every three years, and at most ten people are admitted each time. There are over ten thousand people in the Lawless Land, competing for ten spots. Can you imagine how rigorous Wuji City's selection process is?" Su Dan Novel Network
"What happens if one cannot enter Wuji City?"
"Naturally, you wait for the next Wuji City assessment. However, you must survive until the next assessment," the young man believed that the person before him now understood the stakes and the benefits of joining their Kuang Dao Association.
"Are there any other benefits to joining the Kuang Dao Association?" Xiao Man inquired.
"You still want other benefits?" the young man stared at Xiao Man in disbelief. Without their protection, Xiao Man and his group would be like fat sheep waiting to be slaughtered in the eyes of others!
"See, if we join the Kuang Dao Association, we have to offer tribute, right?"
"Yes, you must offer tribute."
"If someone provokes the Kuang Dao Association, we have to help the Kuang Dao Association defend against enemies, right?"
"That is natural."
"If the Kuang Dao Association wants to seize territory from others, we have to be at the forefront, attacking other forces. That's also correct, isn't it?"
"Correct."
"We have to offer tribute, defend against enemies, and attack other forces, yet we get no benefits. It doesn't make sense," Xiao Man said unhurriedly. "Didn't you also say that there are four major powers here? You are not our only choice."
The young man was confused by Xiao Man's words. The rules for joining the Kuang Dao Association had always been the same: offer tribute, meaning hand over all valuable possessions, and then become a member of the Kuang Dao Association, protected by them. Unless they were members of the four major powers, others would never dare to provoke them.
"Master Dao..."
Kuang Dao's brows were knitted into a knot. "Kid, do you want to join our Kuang Dao Association or not?"
"I have a principle, and that is I don't do things that offer no benefit," Xiao Man said unhurriedly. "Master Dao, why don't you think about what benefits you can offer me to join the Kuang Dao Association?"
"I think you're playing a delaying tactic until you're cornered!" Kuang Dao was furious. He stomped his foot on the ground, stirring up dust, and charged forward with his saber. He decided to teach this ignorant brat a lesson. He had always been the one to extort others, not the other way around!
Xiao Man stood still, watching Kuang Dao charge at him, a gentle smile on his face. He was completely unfazed by Kuang Dao's overwhelming momentum. The wind was in his favor.
Kuang Dao rushed in front of Xiao Man, intending to deliver a fierce blow. However, his legs suddenly went weak, and he knelt before Xiao Man, stunning his followers.
But they dared not ask! Was Master Dao employing a feint?
"Master Dao, are you begging me to join the Kuang Dao Association?"
Kuang Dao felt a mouthful of blood welling up in his throat. He raised his saber, wanting to show Xiao Man how ferocious he was, but he had no strength, and couldn't lift the saber. He could only drop his saber and punch Xiao Man fiercely. Yet, to everyone's eyes, his powerful fist looked like a childish tantrum!
After using the feint, came the tactic of showing weakness. Was Master Dao trying to lower the opponent's guard and then strike when they were unprepared?
The followers watched Kuang Dao excitedly, waiting for him to unleash his might and capture Xiao Man!
Unexpectedly, Xiao Man slapped Kuang Dao to the ground. He picked up the saber and held it to Kuang Dao's neck. "Release my people, and hand over everything valuable you have, or I will flay him alive!"