A Hundred Bandits, Ten Sprouts

The air in Viper's hideout crackled with a palpable tension. Rough laughter and the clatter of tankards echoed off the damp, stone walls, illuminated by flickering torchlight.

Viper, leader of the infamous Black Viper Gang, leaned back against his crudely carved chair, a tankard of ale in his hand. He was a man who exuded raw power, his muscular frame barely contained by his green sleeveless robe and pants. His face, weathered and scarred, held a permanent sneer, a testament to his ruthless nature.

A wisp of smoke, carrying the faint scent of scorched parchment, curled upwards from his outstretched hand. The residue of Theron's message talisman, now reduced to ash, lay scattered across his palm. He closed his fist, the ashes crumbling into dust, and a slow, predatory smile spread across his lips.

"The merchant's desperation is… amusing," he barked, his voice a gravelly growl that cut through the din of the hideout. "He calls upon the Black Viper Gang when his own fangs prove ineffective."

He slammed his tankard down, the ale sloshing over the rim. His bandits, a motley crew of hardened thugs and cutthroats, fell silent, their eyes fixed on their leader.

They knew that when Viper received a message like this, violence was imminent. The Black Viper Gang was known throughout the surrounding lands for its brutality and its fearsome nature.

"The Valiant Zenith Sect," Viper mused, his voice laced with a hint of disdain. "A fledgling group, barely a whisper in the wind. Theron believes they pose a threat." He let out a harsh laugh. "How… pathetic."

He turned to his second-in-command, Korg, whose scarred face and missing eye were grim reminders of past skirmishes. Korg had replaced Cobra, who had made the fatal mistake of negligence a month prior, a mistake Viper had rectified with brutal efficiency. "Korg," he commanded, his voice sharp and decisive, "round up the boys. This is a simple task. A puny sect won't require my presence."

Korg grinned, revealing a chipped tooth. "Sounds easy, Viper." He bellowed orders to the assembled bandits, who responded with eager shouts and the clatter of weapons.

Viper strode to a crudely drawn map of Azurebloom and its surrounding areas, his gaze scanning the details. He jabbed a thick finger at a point on the map, his eyes narrowing as he located the small settlement of Willow Creek.

As he looked at the name, Willow Creek, a flicker of suspicion went through him. Willow Creek… it was a few day's journey from their mountain base.

A month ago, his entire gang had been tricked, allowing two slaves and a man with a child to escape their mountain stronghold. The path they escaped through became blocked by rocks. But the path was certainly in the direction of this little settlement.

The timing of this new sect's appearance, so close to that incident, the path of escape… was disturbingly coincidental. He remembered the humiliation of his men being outsmarted, the two slaves vanishing without a trace.

Then, a sudden, chilling realization struck him. Theron's message, the one he'd just received, contained a bounty on the sect master of the Valiant Zenith Sect. The description... it matched the man who had aided in the prison break of the two slaves a month ago. He remembered the reports of the man leading the slaves. The man who had aided them had no cultivation. He had been a nobody.

"Korg!" Viper barked, his voice laced with a sudden, dangerous urgency. "Hold on!" He grabbed a nearby torch, his eyes burning with a newfound intensity. "This isn't just some puny sect. This is… him. The same man who embarrassed us. The one who took our slaves!" His fist clenched, the torch casting dancing shadows across his enraged face.

"He had no cultivation then, and I doubt he has any now. But I want to be absolutely sure. Take 100 men and Claw just in case. Burn that place to the ground. And bring me his head. I want to see his terrified face when he realizes who is coming for him."

-----

The morning in Willow Creek was serene, the air filled with the sounds of focused training. Sun-woo watched his disciples, their movements fluid and powerful as they practiced the Internal Resonance Conduit Technique. He was impressed by their progress, their ability to channel and store Qi growing stronger with each passing day.

Suddenly, a familiar window appeared in his vision.

[System Mission Initiated.]

Sun-woo paused, his attention shifting to the message.

[The Black Viper Gang has gained knowledge of the Valiant Zenith Sect and its location. Fueled by a desire for revenge, they are preparing to invade Willow Creek.]

His eyes narrowed. The Black Viper Gang. He had known they wouldn't let the escape of the slaves go unpunished, but he hadn't expected them to move so quickly.

[Mission: Defend Willow Creek from the Black Viper Gang invasion.]

[Time till Invasion: 5 days.]

[Reward: Random Foundation High-Level Cultivation Manual.]

[Failure: Destruction of the Valiant Zenith Sect, Destruction of Host.]

He looked at his disciples, their faces etched with determination and strength. They were no longer the inexperienced cultivators they had been a month ago.

They had all reached the peak of the unranked realm, their Qi reserves brimming, their techniques honed to near perfection. Just one more push, and they would all break through to the Awakening Sprout stage.

He decided to keep the threat of the Black Viper Gang hidden for now. He didn't want to distract them from their crucial breakthrough, and he couldn't explain how he got that information.

"Disciples," Sun-woo announced, his voice steady. "Your progress is remarkable. But we must push further. We must break through."

He paused, a subtle smile playing on his lips. "For the next two hours, we will focus solely on achieving the Awakening Sprout stage. I have acquired something that will aid you in your breakthrough."

Sun-woo discreetly purchased ten Foundation Low-Level Qi Gathering Pills from the system. He then instructed his disciples to sit in a meditative posture, their eyes closed, their minds focused.

One by one, he approached each disciple, placing a Qi Gathering Pill in their hands.

"Focus on your Qi," he instructed, his voice low and calming. "Guide it, nurture it, and break through. In two hours, we will see how far you have progressed."

As the disciples absorbed the Qi from the pills, Sun-woo watched them closely, his eyes filled with anticipation. He knew that the breakthrough to the Awakening Sprout stage was a pivotal moment.

He also knew that upon achieving this stage, each disciple would manifest a unique attribute, a special ability that resonated with their individual strengths and personalities.

This attribute would be a significant boost to their combat prowess, making them even more formidable.

He was eager to see what unique abilities they would all gain.