105: Youzhou first target

The sky was inky black, and the starlight and bright moon were all covered by dark clouds.

Qingzhou, Tianhe Commandery.

Annan County, a small county town within Tianhe Commandery.

Inside a guest room at the East Street Inn in the county town, Han Li stood by the window, gazing into the distance.

Although it was just a small county town, under the cover of night, it still displayed its proper prosperity.

In the alleys, various hawking cries were endless, and a bustling crowd moved to and fro.

After a glance, Han Li turned and sat down by the window.

Taking out his ruyi compass, Han Li instantly activated it, and clear images appeared before his eyes.

"After Tianhe Commandery, I'll enter Jiangzhou tomorrow..."

After checking the map route, Han Li put away his ruyi compass.

In one day, he had reached the border of Qingzhou.

Tomorrow, he would step into Jiangzhou.

This was a prefecture known for its jade mines.

The situation in Jiangzhou was different from Qingzhou; Qingzhou was a three-way standoff, dominated by three great Sects, while Jiangzhou had only one great Sect.

Han Li was basically aware of all the top Sects in the Nine Provinces.

He had already prepared all this information before setting off... The night passed quickly.

The next day, early in the morning, after eating breakfast, Han Li left the county town and continued on his journey.

Within half an hour, Han Li had fully entered Jiangzhou.

Flying on his sword, Han Li also overlooked the mountains and rivers below.

Jiangzhou was characterized by many great rivers.

The most famous was the Qianlong River.

The Qianlong River traversed the entire Jiangzhou region.

From above, it looked like a crouching Dragon coiled on the earth.

"Hmm? It seems there's something happening!"

Suddenly, Han Li stopped and looked towards a large mountain.

"Whoosh—!"

With a movement of his True Qi, the Zhan Ling Sword instantly vanished into the air, and in an instant, Han Li descended upon a steep peak.

Looking out, fighting sounds came from a mile away.

"This is... bandits robbing..."

Han Li clearly understood the situation in an instant.

With a flicker of his figure, he disappeared from the peak.

—

On the mountain path, dozens of figures were in a melee.

Swords and blades clashed.

There were also corpses on the ground.

Han Li's figure appeared on the mountain path; a group of bandits was robbing a group of merchants.

However, the merchant caravan also had Martial Artist guards, but facing a group of fierce bandits, the merchant's guard team was clearly at a disadvantage.

The clang of swords, screams, and cries were endless.

"Buzz—!"

Han Li moved a finger, and beside the mountain path, trees swayed, and leaves fell, controlled by Han Li's True Qi.

"Whoosh—"

The leaves behind him instantly shot out, like arrows, each leaf containing sharp Sword Qi.

"Puff puff puff!!!"

In an instant, over a dozen bandits fell.

Among the bandits, the strongest was only in the Vein Opening Realm Middle Stage; the rest were in the Body Tempering Realm, an overwhelming slaughter.

As bandits fell one by one, the remaining merchants and Martial Artist guards showed astonished expressions.

The screams also stopped instantly.

"This..."

"What's going on?"

A middle-aged man spoke in a daze, looking at the dead bandit corpses on the ground, his eyes filled with disbelief.

They were just full of life; how did all these bandits die so suddenly?

"It was the leaves that killed the bandits!"

A woman exclaimed.

It was then that everyone noticed that each bandit had a leaf stuck in their neck.

The major arteries were severed, blood flowed out, and they were beyond dead.

"There's an expert!"

Soon, the Martial Artist guards among them came to their senses.

Killing with leaves; to reach such a Realm, one must be an expert.

For top Martial Artists, a leaf, a blade of grass, could all be Sharp Weapons for killing.

"Big brother, it looks like there's someone!"

A Martial Artist guard spoke, and upon hearing this, the other Martial Artists all looked towards the mountain path not far away.

However, when they looked, there was only a back figure on the mountain path, and in the blink of an eye, the back figure on the mountain path vanished without a trace.

"It must be a Martial Dao master who acted!"

Watching the rapidly disappearing back figure, the group of Martial Artist guards all had the same thought.

Immediately, the guards all knelt down, kowtowing towards the direction where the figure disappeared, and the other merchants, seeing this, also kowtowed and worshipped.

Although they didn't see the person, such a method must have been the work of a Martial Dao master, perhaps just unwilling to show himself... He accomplished his deed, then left, hisachievement and fame hidden!

After dealing with this group of bandits, Han Li left.

Walking on the mountain path, Han Li took a single step that covered four or five zhang.

"I wonder how Second Uncle is doing..."

As Han Li walked, his Second Uncle's image appeared in his mind.

Second Uncle was also a merchant, and his action just now reminded him of Second Uncle.

Passing through Qingyun Prefecture City, Han Li had also checked, but Second Uncle was not there.

The last time they met was during the Qingyuan Sect assessment.

"When Second Uncle returns, I'll give him a sum of money so he can live out his remaining years in peace, without such tiring journeys."

Thoughts flashed through his mind, and Han Li quickened his pace, taking seven or eight zhang with each step, and soon disappeared without a trace... The bright moon hung in the sky, its light illuminating the mountains and earth.

In Jiangzhou, inside a mountain temple in a desolate mountain, a bonfire burned brightly, and Han Li sat cross-legged before the bonfire, holding an Iron Plate in one hand, absorbing Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi, while the Qing Yuan Skill automatically circulated in a cyclical manner.

"Boom—!"

A bolt of lightning tore through the sky; just a moment ago, the bright moon was in the sky, and the next second, dark clouds covered it, and outside the mountain temple, a fierce wind suddenly rose, whistling.

Inside the temple, Han Li sat cross-legged before the bonfire, unmoving.

The thunder and wind outside did not disturb him in the slightest.

The wind grew stronger and stronger, and the dilapidated windows in the temple rattled.

Suddenly, Han Li opened his eyes and looked towards the temple entrance.

At the entrance, a red-clad figure appeared in Han Li's sight.

Her bright red clothes were like wedding attire.

A graceful woman in red walked into the temple.

Her gaze fell upon Han Li before the bonfire, and a gentle voice sounded: "Young Master, I passed by here tonight; may I stay for the night?"

Her voice was very pleasant.

Han Li looked at the red-clad woman; her features were exquisite, but there was a strange beauty about her.

Looking at the red-clad woman, a glint of light flashed deep in Han Li's eyes, and he nodded without a change in expression.

The red-clad woman then came to the bonfire.

"Boom~"

At this moment, outside the temple, a clap of thunder tore through the sky, and in an instant, torrential rain poured down.

"Rumble~"

Bursts of thunder ripped through the sky, and lightning flashed within the clouds.

The rain poured down as if the sky had burst open.

The heavy rain fell, and in the night, the cold air rose.

By the bonfire, Han Li sat cross-legged, while the red-clad woman beside him continuously moved closer to him.

"Young Master, I am Bai Jing, may I ask your name?" The woman's gentle voice sounded, as if it possessed a magical quality.

Han Li looked at the red-clad woman with a calm expression.

"In the wilderness, you have quite some guts."

"Young Master is joking, this White Bone Mountain is where I have lived since childhood," the red-clad woman said with a smile.

Under the bonfire, her delicate face appeared somewhat eerie.

"White Bone Mountain..."

"That name is indeed quite fitting," Han Li said indifferently.

The red-clad woman looked at him, her red lips slightly parted, and a wisp of red Qi exhaled.

"Young Master, the night is long, and in the night rain, it is a good opportunity," the gentle voice sounded again, and the red-clad woman directly approached him.

"It's a good opportunity, but..."

Han Li's voice paused, and the red-clad woman's face beamed with a smile, "Young Master, it's just the two of us here; you can speak directly. I can fulfill all of Young Master's requests."

"Is that so?"

"Yes, Young Master."

"Then I'll borrow your life for a moment," Han Li's voice sounded, and the next second, a golden light burst forth from Han Li's body.

"Ah—!"

The red-clad woman was instantly thrown back by the golden light from his body, heavily slamming into the wall of the mountain temple.

"You... what are you doing?!"

The red-clad woman looked at Han Li, blood spilling from the corner of her mouth.

"Petty tricks dare to show off before an expert?"

Han Li's voice sounded.

The next second, his figure vanished from before the bonfire, and one hand gripped the red-clad woman's fair neck.

"Mmm..."

With Han Li's hand gripping her neck, the red-clad woman's face instantly became flushed.

"Roar—!"

Suddenly, with a roar, the red-clad woman opened her mouth, and her teeth instantly transformed into saw-like fangs.

Her delicate face instantly changed, becoming extremely distorted, and it looked chilling.

Wisps of red light rose from the red-clad woman's body. Her body struggled fiercely, but she still couldn't break free from Han Li's grasp.

"Crack—!"

With a slight exertion of force, a snapping sound was heard, and the red-clad woman instantly lost all signs of life, falling to the ground.

A flash of light, and a red fox appeared before him.

The red-clad woman was, in fact, a fox spirit in disguise.

Looking at the fox spirit's corpse, Han Li's True Qi moved, instantly skinning and boning it.

A complete fox pelt appeared and was stored in his cosmos ring.

After dealing with the fox spirit, Han Li sat back before the bonfire... The night passed quickly.

In the early morning, the mountains were filled with mist, and inside the mountain temple, the bonfire had extinguished.

Aside from the small interlude with the fox spirit, nothing else had happened.

Stepping out of the mountain temple, looking at the hazy mist in the mountains, Han Li took out his ruyi compass, determined the direction, and quickly disappeared from the spot... Half a month passed in a flash.

Han Li traveled all the way and finally arrived in Youzhou.

Tiannan Commandery.

One of the six commanderies belonging to Youzhou.

Among the Nine Provinces, Youzhou had the largest territory.

This area was already the border region of the Wu Dynasty, presenting a different kind of charm... Tiannan Commandery, Anchang County.

This was a small county town under Tiannan Commandery, surrounded by large mountains.

On the official road, Han Li's figure appeared, strolling along the official road, his gaze distant, able to see the county town walls in the distance.

Taking a few steps, Han Li arrived outside the county town.

Looking at the county town before him, Han Li did not stop but stepped into the county town.

People flowed to and fro; although it was just a small county town, it had its due prosperity.

After walking around the county town a few times.

Han Li came to an inn, stepped in, booked a room, and checked in.

Inside the inn room.

Han Li stood by the window, gazing out, and in his mind, a piece of information appeared.

His first hunting target was in Tiannan Commandery.

"I'll go out and investigate tonight."

Turning around, Han Li sat on the edge of the bed, and with a thought, opened his panel.

Winds Arise, Clouds Surge (Fourth Realm 85%)

Kun Peng Transformation Art (7%)

Han Li looked at the panel and then closed it. For over half a month, he had primarily been Cultivating these two martial arts.

His focus was on improving Divine Travel Eight Desolations. Once the Divine Ability broke through and evolved the Demonic Origin, he could rapidly advance the Kun Peng Transformation Art.

He might even succeed in one go.

However, this would still take time. Even with the Comprehension Pill, a certain amount of time was necessary.

Nevertheless, after half a month of Cultivation, Han Li could already condense Kunpeng feathers.

Compared to flying with a sword, condensing Kunpeng feathers increased his speed by several times.

However, the consumption was also enormous.

Even with his current True Qi, he couldn't sustain it for too long.

Han Li would not easily use this martial arts for now.

He would only use it at critical moments... Night fell.

Late at night, Anchang County was silent.

On the bed, Han Li, who was sitting cross-legged, suddenly opened his eyes.

Looking at the pitch-black night outside the window, he quickly got up, pushed open the window, and with a flash, Han Li disappeared from the room... An'nan County was silent under the night sky.

Han Li stepped out of the county town and headed straight for the distance, quickly disappearing into the night.

After the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, Han Li arrived at a mountain peak about a hundred li from An'nan County.

Gazing into the distance, Han Li looked towards a distant mountain peak.

On the peak, a huge mountain stronghold was faintly visible.

In the darkness of the night, faint flickers of firelight could be seen.

"Seven Absolutes Mountain, Scarlet Wind Stronghold. This must be it."

Looking at the mountain stronghold on the distant peak, Han Li's gaze sharpened.

Seven Absolutes Mountain, Scarlet Wind Stronghold, was a bandit lair with about a hundred people.

According to the information he had, the Scarlet Wind Stronghold was backed by the White Lotus Sect, one of the Three Demonic Sects.

Tiannan Commandery was also within the White Lotus Sect's sphere of influence.

The Scarlet Wind Stronghold before him was a bandit force supported by the White Lotus Sect.

The Chief of the Scarlet Wind Stronghold was also a Tōngmài Realm Peak existence.

However, his hunting target was not the Chief of this Scarlet Wind Stronghold.

It was the target behind the Scarlet Wind Stronghold.

A core member of the White Lotus Sect, Chi Ying!

The reward for merit points was a staggering two million!

His Cultivation was at the Innate First Realm, and the Cultivation Technique he practiced was strange. Although he only had the Cultivation of the Innate First Realm, his actual strength was far more than that.

This Scarlet Wind Stronghold was the force controlled by Chi Ying, this core member of the White Lotus Sect.

From the information, Han Li could not yet confirm that Chi Ying was here.

The Scarlet Wind Stronghold was only a clue.

Following the vine to find the melon, he would locate his mission target.

With a movement of his True Qi, Han Li's Physical Body soared into the sky, flying away in an instant.

Soon, he descended onto a peak of Seven Absolutes Mountain.

The Scarlet Wind Stronghold was within reach!

Relying on his powerful perception, Han Li silently dealt with several sentries of the Scarlet Wind Stronghold, captured a bandit, and interrogated him for the exact location of the Chief of the Scarlet Wind Stronghold.

After dealing with the bandit, Han Li flashed, silently scaling the walls of the Scarlet Wind Stronghold and entering it.

The Scarlet Wind Stronghold was quite large, with seven or eight courtyards.

Under the cover of night, Han Li silently arrived at the door of the courtyard where the Chief of the Scarlet Wind Stronghold resided.

It was already late at night, but the room was still lit.

Faintly, a figure could be seen.

With his powerful perception, Han Li could sense that there was more than one person in the room; there was another.

Two people.

"One Tōngmài Realm Peak, so that must be the Chief of the Scarlet Wind Stronghold."

Having confirmed his target, Han Li didn't waste any time. With a single stride, he broke through the window and entered the room.

"Whoosh..."

True Qi transformed into a sword, and one person was immediately killed.

The remaining burly middle-aged man was startled, but before he could even utter a sound, a hand like an iron clamp gripped his neck.

The middle-aged man instantly found it difficult to breathe, his eyes wide. Looking at the figure before him, a hint of fear appeared in his eyes.

An Innate expert!

Sensing the aura, the middle-aged man was inwardly terrified.

At this moment, Han Li waved his hand, and a dense Innate True Qi erupted, covering the entire room, sealing it with True Qi.

Only then did he release his hand.

His gaze fell upon the Chief of the Scarlet Wind Stronghold before him.

The Chief of the Scarlet Wind Stronghold also slumped to the ground, looking at the sturdy young man before him in terror.

With Innate True Qi sealing the room, even if he screamed his lungs out, no sound would be heard outside.

"Who is Your Excellency?"

Suppressing the shock in his heart, the Chief of the Scarlet Wind Stronghold asked.

Han Li sat on a chair, looking at the Chief of the Scarlet Wind Stronghold: "Who I am is not important. What's important is that you answer whatever I ask, understand?"

"Your Excellency, don't go too far. Although you are Innate, I must remind Your Excellency that my Scarlet Wind Stronghold also has powerful backing."

The Chief of the Scarlet Wind Stronghold calmed down and said, looking at Han Li.

"Slap--!"

As soon as his voice fell, a crisp slap echoed. Han Li remained motionless in his chair, but half of the Chief of the Scarlet Wind Stronghold's face instantly swelled, and blood oozed from the corner of his mouth.

"I don't like being threatened?" A flat voice sounded.

Looking at Han Li, the Chief of the Scarlet Wind Stronghold nodded in terror.

"Do you know where Chi Ying is? How many strongholds are there? Tell me everything."

Han Li spoke.

"You're looking for Lord Chi Ying!"

The Chief of the Scarlet Wind Stronghold was startled and looked at Han Li.

"Don't waste time!" Han Li's voice sounded again.

The Chief of the Scarlet Wind Stronghold instantly regained his senses and looked at him: "If I tell you, will Your Excellency spare my life?"

"Crack--!"

As soon as his voice fell, the sound of bones breaking rang out. The Chief of the Scarlet Wind Stronghold's face instantly contorted, and beads of sweat dripped from his forehead.

Han Li, like a ghost, appeared before him, his gaze coldly fixed on the Chief of the Scarlet Wind Stronghold.

"I'll tell, I'll tell." The Chief of the Scarlet Wind Stronghold immediately nodded, and then began to reveal a location.

"Suburban manor..."

Listening to the location the Chief of the Scarlet Wind Stronghold mentioned, Han Li looked at him.

"Besides this one?"

"This lowly one doesn't know any others. This lowly one only knows this one location for Lord Chi Ying." The Chief of the Scarlet Wind Stronghold said.

"Can you contact Chi Ying?" Han Li asked.

"This lowly one cannot contact him. Lord Chi Ying always seeks me out." The Chief of the Scarlet Wind Stronghold shook his head.

"When was the last time he sought you out?"

"Three days ago."

"Lord Chi Ying should still be in the manor. This lowly one has been there a few times and always saw Lord Chi Ying in the manor."

The Chief said.

"So, this manor is a stronghold of the White Lotus Sect?"

"This, this lowly one is not clear." The Chief of the Scarlet Wind Stronghold shook his head.

"Hmm?"

"This lowly one is truly not clear. Although I went a few times, this lowly one only saw Lord Chi Ying and no one else."

The Chief of the Scarlet Wind Stronghold hurriedly said.

"I've said everything I should. That's all there is." The Chief of the Scarlet Wind Stronghold said.

Han Li nodded lightly, but at this moment, a fierce glint flashed in the Chief of the Scarlet Wind Stronghold's eyes. He suddenly burst forth, a sharp dagger plunging towards Han Li's chest.

"Clang--!"

The dagger struck his chest, but the imagined scene did not occur.

He felt as if his dagger had pierced into metal or stone, and even with force, it could not advance an inch.

His pupils contracted, and before he could react, an invisible Sword Qi condensed.

"Pfft--!"

The Sword Qi sliced through the Chief's neck, blood gushed out, and he instantly fell to the ground.

Looking at the dead Chief, Han Li's expression was cold. He squatted down and found a hundred treasure sack on the Chief's body.

He opened the hundred treasure sack and inspected it. Besides some silver, there were a few Spirit Stones, and other miscellaneous items.

Han Li immediately put them away.

Afterwards, he stepped out of the room... "Boom--!"

Late at night, on the peak of Seven Absolutes Mountain, towering flames ignited, and a raging fire engulfed the entire Scarlet Wind Stronghold, forming a sea of fire.

Amidst the flames, a figure strolled out, taking four or five zhang with each step. Han Li did not look back, and his figure quickly disappeared into the night... Outside a manor covering a hundred mu in the suburbs of Anchang County, Han Li's figure appeared.

Under the night sky, this manor was enveloped in darkness, with only faint lights illuminating it.

Han Li's figure moved like a ghost, instantly scaling the two-zhang-high courtyard wall and silently entering the manor.

The manor was very large, with over a dozen courtyards.

In the darkness of the night, Han Li passed through long corridors, traversed one courtyard after another, and finally stopped before a courtyard deep within the manor.

Looking at the courtyard before him, Han Li's gaze fell on the door of the room in the courtyard.

It was pitch black, with no light at all, but within it, Han Li sensed a peculiar aura.

An aura only possessed by those who had Cultivated to the Innate Realm.

"Whoosh--!"

Standing outside the courtyard, Han Li flicked his finger lightly, and a small stone shot out like lightning, passing through the window and into the room.

The next second, there was movement in the room.

Lights came on.

The tightly shut door opened, and a red-robed figure appeared.

"Chi Ying!"

Looking at the red-clothed youth, Han Li's gaze sharpened. With a single stride, he entered the courtyard.

He threw a punch, a seemingly ordinary punch, yet it contained extreme power, compressing the air to form an air cannon that attacked.

"Bang--!"

Instinctively, he activated his True Qi defense, but it still couldn't withstand the power of this blow. His body smashed through the door, and a mouthful of blood gushed out.

"Swish--!"

Han Li didn't waste any words. Lightning flashed, and the Ben Lei Fist directly blasted out.

"Buzz--!"

At the same time, Chi Ying activated his True Qi to counterattack, but faced with an absolute power disparity, he couldn't block it at all. The punch shattered his defense, and with a 'crack' sound, bones breaking could be heard.

"Puff!"

A mouthful of blood gushed out. Before Chi Ying could even catch his breath, a flash of spiritual light appeared, and a sharp pain erupted in his chest.

He struggled to lower his head; his heart in his chest had been directly pierced by a sword.

"You..."

He raised his head, but after uttering just one word, he instantly collapsed.

The Zhan Ling Sword landed in his hand. With a swipe, Chi Ying's head was instantly severed.