51: Instant kill
“From the location, Blood Wind Stronghold is the closest, and the imperial wanted criminal is also nearby. It's safest to deal with Blood Wind Stronghold first.”
With that thought, Han Li quickly made a decision.
He would start with Blood Wind Stronghold.
“I’ll rest today and set off tomorrow morning.”
Once he decided, Han Li immediately took out his Iron Plate and continued to Cultivate.
He needed to conserve his energy. The next two missions were quite difficult, and he had to be fully prepared.
Infinite Spiritual Qi gathered, the Iron Plate in his hand vibrated, and the Qing Yuan Skill circulated in a grand cosmic cycle.
Time also passed little by little... The next day, early in the morning, Han Li checked out and left.
After breakfast, he didn't delay at all, took out the ruyi compass to confirm the location of his mission target, and left directly.
— —
Leaving the county town, Han Li, as usual, chose a secluded route. Divine Travel Eight Desolations activated, and he transformed into a wisp of clear wind, disappearing onto the mountain path.
The sun was high in the sky.
Two hours later, Han Li's figure appeared in a continuous mountain range in Mangshan County.
Standing on the hillside, Han Li gazed into the distance.
According to the detailed mission description, Blood Wind Stronghold was located in the North Mangshan Mountain surrounding Mangshan County.
North Mangshan Mountain, with its perilous terrain, rugged mountain paths, and rivers cutting through the mountains, was a natural stronghold.
With their main camp established in North Mangshan Mountain, leveraging its naturally strategic geographical position, Blood Wind Stronghold thrived.
Even with the scorching sun overhead, North Mangshan Mountain was still shrouded in white mist.
Here, in addition to the treacherous terrain, various venomous insects and fierce beasts roamed.
The natural poisonous miasma made it easy for those unfamiliar with the environment to encounter danger.
Standing on the mountaintop, Han Li gazed into the distance, and the detailed information about Blood Wind Stronghold reappeared in his mind.
Blood Wind Stronghold had only one leader, who was his mission target, Yang Feng.
There were also dozens of bandits in Blood Wind Stronghold.
Their power was still very considerable.
Besides Yang Feng, the Martial Artist, Blood Wind Stronghold was not without other Martial Artists.
“First, find the specific location, then decide.” After pondering for a moment, Han Li leaped, and his figure disappeared into the vast mountain forest... Half an hour later, deep in North Mangshan Mountain, on a mountaintop, Han Li’s figure appeared.
Hidden in the crown of a large tree, Han Li stood in the treetops, gazing at a peculiar peak not far away.
It was several hundred zhang high.
At the top of the peculiar peak was Blood Wind Stronghold's main camp, a huge stronghold.
It was surrounded by cliffs, and there was only one path up the mountain, which became steeper the higher it went.
From his position, Han Li could clearly see bandits guarding the mountain path.
If he were to go up the mountain, he would likely be exposed before reaching even halfway.
“This location is indeed very strategic, easy to defend and difficult to attack!” Han Li frowned.
There was only one path leading to Blood Wind Stronghold's main camp, and this path was guarded by many bandits. The possibility of sneaking up the mountain undetected was too small.
Apart from this small path, all other areas were sheer cliffs. Even with his excellent lightness skill, it was impossible to ascend the mountain directly via the cliffs.
Unless he could fly up.
If he were to attack head-on, Blood Wind Stronghold had dozens of bandits with various crossbows and weapons. He might be shot full of holes before even finding his target.
His Physical Body was strengthened, but it hadn't reached an indestructible state.
And most importantly, if Yang Feng wasn't in the stronghold, disturbing the snake would make him difficult to find.
Even if he were to attack head-on, he would have to see the target appear before making a move.
“Going up the mountain during the day is impossible. I can only sneak up under the cover of night.”
Han Li's thoughts turned.
Such a treacherous geographical location was truly a headache.
And there were defenses. Only under the cover of night could he enter the mountain.
This was the safest method.
Completing the mission was secondary; the most important thing was to ensure his own safety.
With this thought, Han Li remained hidden in the tree crown, continuing to observe various points on the peculiar peak.
A rudimentary plan for ascending the mountain also began to form in his mind... Time passed minute by minute.
The sun set, and night enveloped the earth.
Dark clouds obscured the moon, and in the late autumn night, the chill in the mountains deepened.
On the hillside, Han Li's figure was hidden in the bushes, patiently waiting for the right moment.
As night deepened, the world was shrouded in darkness.
On the peculiar peak, specks of firelight rose, like fireflies in the night, emitting a faint glow.
“It's deep night; I can act now.”
Having calculated the time, Han Li, like a ghost in the night, swiftly approached the peculiar peak where Blood Wind Stronghold was located.
Upon reaching the foot of the peculiar peak, Han Li's figure did not stop. Divine Travel Eight Desolations activated, his senses fully open, and he quickly ascended the mountain.
When he reached halfway up the mountain, Han Li slowed his pace.
The closer he got, the more cautious he had to be.
“Hmm?”
“The daytime guards have withdrawn?”
Carefully ascending the mountain, Han Li, relying on his powerful senses, did not detect any bandit presence.
“It seems they are very confident in this place. That's good; it makes things easier for me.”
With that thought, Han Li continued to carefully ascend the mountain with light steps.
No bandit guards was a good thing for him.
Dealing with guards, if anything went wrong, the commotion would be considerable.
One slip-up could alert all the bandits... Continuing up the mountain, Han Li, using the natural concealment of the night, was already very close.
However, the closer he got, the more cautious he had to be.
Slipping into a hidden corner, Han Li looked up; Blood Wind Stronghold's main camp was already within reach.
However, in his perception, there were still two guards hidden in the shadows.
The bandit guards on the mountain path had withdrawn, but not completely; there were still two lookouts.
One was in the east, and one was in the west.
They were guarding different positions of the stronghold.
“Hmm?”
“Why is it so lively?”
Han Li listened intently, and with his extraordinary hearing, he heard the clamor coming from inside the stronghold.
It sounded as if they were celebrating something with drinks.
“Never mind that, I'll deal with these two bandits first.”
Han Li composed himself, locked onto one target, and silently approached.
Under the cover of night, faint firelight shone, and Han Li crept forward in the darkness.
He stopped when he was less than two zhang away.
He opened his hand, and a steel needle appeared from it.
Holding the steel needle between two fingers, True Qi poured into his body, and Han Li focused his mind.
“Whoosh—!”
A faint whooshing sound rang out, and the steel needle in his hand shot out instantly.
“Pfft!”
The tiny steel needle, empowered by True Qi, became incredibly swift, piercing directly into the bandit's glabella.
Instant death.
A surge of vital Qi emerged, and the Demon Seed sealed it.
The moment the bandit fell, Han Li activated Divine Travel Eight Desolations at full speed, directly moving the bandit's corpse into the shadows.
Everything happened very quickly, almost in one fluid motion.
In the darkness, Han Li stripped the bandit's clothes, put them on directly, smeared dirt on his face for a simple disguise, and then swaggered out of the darkness.
As for the corpse, he casually threw it down the cliff.
Having changed into the bandit's clothes, Han Li headed directly towards the other bandit guard.
With one hand behind his back, the silver needle in his hand was fully prepared.
When he was two zhang away, in the darkness, the voice of the other bandit guard rang out.
“Sixth Brother, why aren't you guarding your own post? What are you doing here?”
The bandit's voice rang out, but Han Li did not speak. Before the bandit could say a second sentence, the steel needle in his hand shot out again.
“Pfft—!”
The sharp steel needle shot out, instantly hitting the bandit in the darkness, similarly piercing his glabella, resulting in instant death.
A surge of vital Qi emerged, and the Demon Seed sealed it again.
Heaven and Earth Demon Seed (Level 2 96%)!
The two bandit guards were instantly killed.
Using the same method, Han Li directly threw the corpses down the cliff.
Looking at the stronghold, Han Li's gaze swept across it. He leaped up, directly clearing the fence, which was over one zhang high, and entered the stronghold.
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