Chapter 86: Qipan Road

【You opened: Chest (Common), obtained: Ring-Handle Saber, Paradise Points ×300】

【You opened: Chest (Excellent), obtained: Skill Book (Iron Sand Palm), Paradise Points ×1200】

【Ring-Handle Saber】

【Type: Equipment · Ring-Handle Saber】

【Quality: Common】

【Durability: 100/100】

【Attack: 5~10】

——

【Skill Book: Iron Sand Palm】

【Type: Active/Passive Skill】

【Quality: Excellent】

【Effect: After use, acquire the Iron Sand Palm skill; different techniques grant varying power and effects, and at max level, energy points are replaced with internal energy points】

Chu Danqing opened both chests during his watch.

The Common-level chest from the Longmen boss matched his strength, but the skill book was intriguing.

At max level, it functioned similarly to a heritage skill.

Yet its effect might be weak—perhaps due to a different focus.

Zhao Mingqian’s energy was internal energy, yet it was barely 150 points, despite his Can Luo Xuan Gong being at LV.10.

The Five Elemental Beast Scripture granted him 100 mana points upon learning.

Chu Danqing didn’t believe the Can Luo Xuan Gong from the number-one sect could be Common-level—Iron Sand Palm itself was Excellent.

It was far more likely that Can Luo Xuan Gong’s bonuses didn’t enhance attributes.

Of the two items obtained, the Ring-Handle Saber had little resale value, but Iron Sand Palm was valuable.

It was similar to a minor heritage skill, usable as a lower-tier substitute.

In the reserve stage, selling it wouldn’t be difficult.

Chu Danqing had also been thinking: if only he could open a Basic Skill Book, that would be a real windfall.

The native inhabitants of this trial world, if they had any martial skill, almost all possessed Basic Skills—especially the most universal and best-selling close-combat and ranged-basic skills.

There was a chance to obtain one, but only from chests dropped by strong foes.

After handling the chests, Chu Danqing resumed his watch.

The three took turns on duty; the old servant, too aged, was exempt, while Chu Danqing kept Da Bao with him.

When daylight came, they ate some food and continued their journey.

During this time, Chu Danqing offered incense and fresh offerings to the Snake Spirit, then trained for half an hour, completing his daily routine.

Their previous carriage had been washed away in the river; the horses’ fate was unknown, and their luggage was scattered.

Fortunately, Chu Danqing had prepared thoroughly, sparing them from hardship.

He wasn’t strong in combat, but his logistical planning was sound.

As for Chu Danqing pulling items from his storage space—this didn’t quite fit the wuxia setting—but his status provided plausible justification, so it caused little disruption.

Temporary summons like the Unicorn Dragon and Crossbowmen could be justified; the storage space was merely a minor detail.

“Little Chu, someone’s coming,” Da Bao said, chewing on a fragrant roasted lamb leg, skin and bone together.

Yet Da Bao showed no alertness or change in expression—his animal instinct sensed no threat; likely just a passerby.

“If there’s no hostility or danger, ignore him,” Chu Danqing said, adhering to the principle of minding one’s own business.

What else could they do? They couldn’t interrogate every stranger they met—he had limited capacity and could only focus on what lay before him.

“Da Bao’s ability is truly remarkable—he can sense enemies from miles away,” Zhao Mingqian said enviously.

“He has acute hearing and sight—he hears from farther away,” Chu Danqing explained.

Da Bao first received sensory input through his five senses, then his instinct activated.

Without sufficient perception, his instinct and intuition couldn’t achieve such a miraculous effect.

Theoretically, perception should be Da Bao’s primary attribute, yet he is a combatant.

Perception alone won’t let him fight—his talents and skills would be wasted.

Roughly three minutes later, they saw a young man in white robes riding a white horse galloping toward them.

His gaze first landed on Da Bao, then shifted to Xiong Zhigang, then briefly to Zhao Mingqian, and finally to Chu Danqing.

He passed by without stopping.

After the man rode away, Xiong Zhigang said: “Fine horse. Fine saddle.”

A scholar by origin, a military officer by career, long stationed at the frontier—he had exceptional eyes for horses and tack.

Chu Danqing knew nothing of horses, but he understood their value.

A fine horse in ancient times was comparable to a luxury car today.

Even Xiong Zhigang, former Grand Coordinator of Pingsu, praised this horse and saddle—its value far exceeded what an ordinary household could afford.

The young man’s origins were extraordinary.

But it had nothing to do with them, so they didn’t dwell on it.

“Someone else—more people,” Da Bao spoke again after roughly ten minutes.

Soon, about ten riders galloped up, radiating bandit energy—they looked like outlaws.

At this moment, Chu Danqing finally understood just how heavy the “bandits everywhere” in the briefing truly was.

The lead man pulled his reins to a stop; the others followed suit.

“Gentlemen,” the man greeted, then asked: “Have you seen a man in white robes riding a white horse?”

“Yes, about fifteen minutes ago, he went down the main road,” Xiong Zhigang replied without concealment.

He believed these men couldn’t catch up to the white-robed youth anyway, so he told the truth to avoid unnecessary trouble.

“Thank you,” the man replied, then led his men off in pursuit.

Once they were far away, Zhao Mingqian said: “How chaotic are the bandits of Qipan Road? Even their leader can’t control them.”

“We’ve only been on Qipan Road two days, and already there’s so much disorder.”

Ambushes, pursuits—it was utterly lawless.

Chu Danqing thought for a moment, then pulled out the earlier mountain-scouting map and showed it to Xiong Zhigang: “Look—is this Qipan Road?”

Xiong Zhigang examined it: “Indeed, it is Qipan Road—but this map is strange.”

“The markings don’t seem to be for mountain goods or wild beasts,” he touched the dried bloodstains on it and asked: “Mr. Chu, where did you get this?”

He asked, and Chu Danqing explained the circumstances.

Zhao Mingqian frowned—he had assumed bandits were righteous heroes before descending the mountain; now he saw they were merely painted facades.

Xiong Zhigang stared at the map, mentally calculating and deducing.

“This map lists the bandit strongholds of every clan on Qipan Road.”

“With this map, I need only a hundred soldiers to sweep clean all bandits on Qipan Road in a single day,” Xiong Zhigang murmured. “But if you, sir, would assist—”

“I can eradicate them in three days!”

As soon as he spoke, Chu Danqing activated a side quest.

【Side Quest: Eliminate all bandits on Qipan Road within three days】

【Trial Difficulty: C-Rank (Adventure）】

【Trial Reward: Paradise Points ×2000, Attribute Points +2】

【Trial Failure: Paradise Points -4000】

(End of Chapter)