Ten years of dormancy: Starting as a martial arts master at the pinnacle

"The Beggars' Sect?"

Li Changqing was very interested in this gang.

Previously, he had been lying low in the Cao Gang of Shanhai County, and his knowledge of the surrounding world and Jianghu gangs was mostly based on what people in the gangs told him.

The canal gang and the salt gang wielded immense power.

If they hadn't acted independently but instead come together, their power would have been enough to overthrow the world.

Even so, neither of these gangs had many skilled fighters.

Locally, someone at the Innate Realm is basically qualified to be a gang leader. Only at the headquarters of these two gangs are there Grandmaster-level experts stationed there.

Because there are few experts, but they have money and manpower.

Both the Salt Gang and the Canal Gang would invite grandmasters to assist them.

They spend tens of thousands of taels of silver every year on a single grandmaster...

Even such gangs are in a weak position in the underworld and are often bullied.

Not to mention the Beggars' Guild, which was made up of a bunch of beggars.

When the members of the Grand Canal Gang mention the Beggars' Gang, they usually just raise their heads, curl their lips, and look disdainful.

"A bunch of filthy beggars, they haven't even filled their stomachs, yet they're trying to form a gang?"

"They're just a bunch of poor bastards huddling together for warmth."

Because of these evaluations, Li Changqing's impression of the Beggars' Sect plummeted.

The kind of beggars' guild he remembered was probably destined never to exist.

But judging from what the King of Qin said, the Beggars' Sect not only exists, but its influence is also considerable...

"The Beggars' Sect is truly the largest sect in the world. Although the Canal Gang and the Salt Gang together number over a hundred thousand, they are scattered in various places and belong to local tyrants. In addition, they have their own territories, so they can never truly unite."

"The Beggars' Sect is different. Although their martial artists are far inferior to those of the Canal Gang and the Salt Gang, they are homeless and highly mobile. This means that they can really gather a large number of experts in a very short time in a certain place."

"That's why, in the eyes of truly powerful forces, they would rather offend the Salt Gang and the Canal Gang than the Beggar Gang."

"There are at least several hundred thousand beggars in the world, if not a million."

At this point, a wry smile appeared on Li Yuanhao's face. As a prince of the Great Zhou, how could the Great Zhou have so many beggars?

This is really not something to be proud of.

"There are always some who get lucky or are exceptionally talented. These people either leave the Beggars' Sect or stay to take care of their companions. Those who leave are self-explanatory, while those who stay to take care of their companions are the successors of the Beggars' Sect."

"Over time, the Beggars' Sect naturally developed its own unique traditions."

Li Yuanhao had clearly studied the Beggars' Sect in depth and knew very detailed information about it.

"Although the Salt Gang and the Canal Gang are more powerful, in terms of the number of masters, they are far inferior to the Beggar Gang."

At this point, Li Yuanhao gave a meaningful smile.

Li Changqing instantly understood what he meant.

Although the canal gangs and salt gangs were not ubiquitous, they did connect the docks of both waterways and sea routes.

It's not much different from being all over the world.

Such a force must have been under the strict control of the Great Zhou Dynasty.

Otherwise, how could they, with so much money, not be able to cultivate grandmasters?

Even grandmasters and powerful figures in the Free and Unfettered Realm might join in.

The Beggars' Sect is different.

Although they are not as wealthy as those two gangs, they are not subject to any restrictions and the imperial court cannot control them.

What's even more frightening is that the Beggars' Sect's reach wasn't limited to just waterways and sea routes.

Wherever there are people, there will be beggars.

The kind of peaceful and prosperous era in Li Changqing's previous life, where no one suffered from cold or hunger, only lasted for a mere thirty or forty years in the thousands of years of Chinese history.

How could the productivity of the Great Zhou Dynasty compare to that of Li Changqing's previous life?

This means that the world will never lack beggars...

"The allure of this power is too great. Although no one can afford to support it, that doesn't stop them from getting involved. In short, the current Beggars' Sect is a mixed bag. There are probably a dozen top-tier experts, but none of them can truly command the respect of the masses."

"A dozen or so grandmasters?"

Li Changqing found it hard to believe. With the Beggars' Sect's conditions—people barely having enough to eat and suffering from physical exhaustion—how could they possibly train over a dozen Grandmasters?

"Not everyone in the Beggars' Sect is a beggar. Although some stay behind to take care of their companions, it doesn't mean they don't seek a future or do business. With strength and money, resources won't be lacking. Many little beggars are adopted and raised from a young age. They are called beggars, but they have never actually begged for a single day."

Upon hearing this, Li Changqing understood.

Unlike the Canal Gang and the Salt Gang, the Beggars' Gang was the real gang.

However, this gang has one huge problem.

That is, there is no universally recognized leader in this gang.

A dozen or so grandmasters were scattered throughout the Great Zhou Dynasty, none of them willing to submit to the others, each fighting their own battles.

In addition, the Beggars' Sect lacks a unified lineage.

Chen Changfeng's appearance was like a guiding light for all the masters of the Beggars' Sect.

That's a master of the Free and Unfettered Realm, a powerful figure with deep roots in a major force.

Only with such a powerful figure in charge can one truly establish a foothold in the martial arts world.

Otherwise, they'll end up like the Grand Canal Gang and the Salt Gang.

No matter how powerful you are, you can still be looked down upon.

Not to mention the Dog-Beating Stick Technique and the Eighteen Subduing Dragon Palms...

The greatest desire of a master who has already broken through to the Grandmaster level is to take it a step further.

Given their strength and status, let's not even talk about whether other forces would be willing to train them as core disciples.

They themselves might not be willing to grovel before other forces.

But Chen Changfeng of the Beggars' Sect was different.

These Beggars' Sect masters felt no guilt whatsoever in joining him.

"The Beggars' Sect, once it unifies the world, will become one of the most formidable forces in the world. You must maintain a good relationship with your friend."

Before leaving, Li Yuanhao gave a special piece of advice.

Li Changqing nodded slightly. Even without Li Yuanhao saying anything, he was certain that he could maintain this relationship well.

After all, it's just him.

Two more days passed, and the Beggars' Sect masters scattered across various locations were getting closer and closer to the capital.

Qin Yu has already gathered the intelligence.

"Hong Fu Nu is the leader of the seven top-tier assassins! She does know some information about the person behind it all."

This was somewhat beyond Li Changqing's expectations.

This whole thing started ten years ago when I went missing.

The length of time and the amount of investment involved in the planning were unimaginable.

Very few people truly know the details of this matter.

Unexpectedly, the assassin he caught by chance was one of them.

"Who is it?"

Upon hearing Li Changqing's question, Qin Yu hesitated for a moment before speaking.

"Yes……"