56: Second level danger

"Beichuan..."

Stepping out of the county yamen, Han Li used his ruyi compass to pinpoint the exact location of Beichuan County.

According to the route on the ruyi compass, Mangshan County to Beichuan was about eight hundred li away.

"I should return to the Sect first. Only after I Breakthrough will I have the ability to solve this."

After some thought, Han Li made up his mind.

The Black Tiger Stronghold, he would temporarily keep it in mind. Without a certain level of strength, he didn't want to take the risk.

After all, the overall strength and Peak strength of the Black Tiger Stronghold far surpassed that of the Blood Wind Stronghold.

A stronghold like this wouldn't just disappear.

If his strength wasn't enough, it would be akin to walking into a trap and seeking death.

With his thoughts settled, Han Li walked towards the outskirts of Mangshan County.

Stepping out of Mangshan County, and using his ruyi compass to pinpoint his location, Han Li vanished directly in the suburbs... Night, dark clouds covered the sky.

Outside the Qingyuan Sect mountain gate, Han Li's figure appeared in the night.

Without much delay, Han Li directly entered the mountain gate.

Yuhua Peak.

At his residence halfway up the mountain, Han Li pushed open the courtyard door and walked in.

After washing up, he entered dreamland... The next day, early in the morning, Han Li woke up early, tidied himself, and headed straight for Heaven and Earth Peak.

He had completed three missions, earning a total of thirteen thousand contribution points.

His first hunting mission was perfectly completed.

After handing in the missions, Han Li headed towards Qingyuan Market.

The corpses of Demonic Beasts were also a source of wealth.

After selling them, Han Li purchased a large quantity of Medicinal Pills.

Han Li bought some of each type of Medicinal Pill needed for the Vein Opening Realm.

Some were paid for with contribution points, while others were purchased with silver.

After purchasing the Medicinal Pills, Han Li did not return to Yuhua Peak, but instead went directly to Demon Suppression Valley.

—

Deep within the first layer of Demon Suppression Valley, in front of the Formation entrance leading to the second layer, Han Li's figure appeared.

Looking at the Formation before him, Han Li took a deep breath, True Qi brewing within him.

A layer of visible airflow spread out around him.

The air rippled like waves on a lake.

After accumulating power for more than a dozen breaths, Han Li extended a hand.

Fierce Tiger Charge!

Behind him, a giant fierce tiger materialized, letting out a long roar that echoed for dozens of li, its Aura overwhelming.

"Boom—!"

With a single strike, he slammed into the Formation, and the surrounding air instantly exploded, like a howling hurricane, destroying everything.

The Formation rippled with powerful light patterns, then collapsed within two breaths.

A narrow, deep entrance was revealed, and Han Li's figure flashed, like a ghost, quickly darting inside.

The narrow, deep passage was about a hundred zhang long.

Han Li stepped out of the deep passage, and his vision suddenly opened up.

Tall mountains stood, and the sun shone brightly.

It was like a paradise hidden from the world.

"The Spiritual Qi here is much more abundant..."

Looking at the mountains, rivers, and vegetation before him, Han Li took a breath.

The Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi was very abundant, more than double that of the first layer.

The second layer of Demon Suppression Valley was like a paradise.

Three layers of areas.

Each layer was grander than the last, and the danger level also increased geometrically.

For Inner Sect Disciples, the danger level of the first layer was not too high.

However, the danger level of the second layer was much greater.

It wasn't impossible to encounter strange-level Demonic Beasts, or even Innate Realm ghost-level Demonic Beasts!

Breaking through the second layer's Formation meant Han Li at least had the ability to move around in the second layer's area.

Withdrawing his gaze, Han Li headed towards the distance... The second layer was vast, and far fewer Disciples entered it.

Most of those who could enter here were cultivators at the Tōngmài Realm Peak.

The others were like Han Li, whose Realm had not yet reached that level, but who could break through the Formation with their own strength.

To do so with a cultivation of Vein Opening Realm Early Stage, he was probably the first.

As he went deeper, Han Li also raised his guard.

In the second layer, the creatures were generally strange-level Late Stage or even Peak.

After advancing for more than ten li, Han Li passed through a forest and arrived at a grand canyon.

This was a grand canyon; a glance across it showed almost no end, and the distance between the two sides was a full hundred zhang wide.

If one were to look down from the sky, it would appear as if the earth had been split open by a crack.

And within the canyon, a layer of mist permeated, making it impossible to see what was inside.

Even his eyesight couldn't discern the ground conditions of the canyon.

"This canyon should be the Hidden Mist Grand Canyon mentioned in the handbook..."

Han Li looked at the canyon before him, relevant information appearing in his mind.

Hidden Mist Grand Canyon.

One of the dangerous places in the second layer.

It was also a place where Demonic Beasts were easily encountered.

Thick mist covered it, making it seem bottomless.

A cold and eerie Aura emanated from below.

Looking at the Hidden Mist Grand Canyon, Han Li then looked around, spotting a small path on the left. This was the way into the Hidden Mist Grand Canyon; he could descend from here.

"Buzz—!"

A flash of light, and the Dragon Pattern Spear appeared in his hand. Gripping the Dragon Pattern Spear, Han Li directly followed the small path downwards.

Where Demonic Beasts gathered, the Yin Qi was often very heavy.

As he descended the small path, Han Li could feel an intense chill.

Like the cold deep within an icy world.

However, his Physical Body was robust, so this slight chill was not an issue.

Before long, his figure disappeared into the mist.

A moment later, Han Li arrived at the bottom of the Hidden Mist Grand Canyon.

Looking up at the sky, thick fog covered everything, and no sun could be seen.

A heavy, somber feeling.

The visibility around him was only a few zhang; anything further was unclear.

The mist lingered, forming a natural barrier.

Gripping the Dragon Pattern Spear, Han Li walked towards the depths of the Hidden Mist Grand Canyon.

Although he hadn't encountered any Demonic Beasts or monsters since entering, he dared not be careless.

Demonic Beasts and monsters were bizarre and varied; one couldn't be sure what might suddenly leap out... "Clang—!"

As he delved deeper, Han Li suddenly stopped. From deep within the white mist, a sound reached him.

His ears twitched, and Han Li listened carefully. It was the sound of fighting.

The white mist swirled, revealing a sharp Aura.

"Something's happening."

Han Li's spirit was roused, and he focused, gripping his Dragon Pattern Spear, and continued to go deeper.

The closer he got, the stronger the sharp Aura emanating from within the mist became.

The white mist seemed to be dispersed quite a bit by the sharp Aura.

"Bang—!"

Another sound rang out from within the white mist, and Han Li vaguely seemed to see two figures.

A fierce Aura diffused, emanating from the two figures.

One of them had the Aura of a Demonic Beast; he would not mistake the Demonic Qi on its body.

Continuing forward several zhang, the blurry figures within the white mist became clearer.

Within the thick mist, a large gray scorpion appeared before his eyes.

A massive scorpion, a zhang in size, was something Han Li had never seen before.

It was entirely gray, and its shell bore several white marks, looking as if they had been scratched by a saber.

The massive scorpion, a zhang in size, also moved very quickly.

Its tail's poisonous hook was a full chi long.

It looked as if it were forged from a weapon.

And in front of the large scorpion, there was another person, a young man.

His Aura was profound, his appearance seemed ordinary, but his presence was extremely powerful.

He held a slender long saber in his hand, exuding Spiritual Qi, also a Spiritual Artifact.

"Clang—!"

The great saber in his hand slashed out, a substantial Saber Qi cleaved forth, landing on the Demonic Scorpion's body, leaving a white mark, forcing the Demonic Scorpion back.

"Overlord Saber Slash!"

Seeing this, the young man furiously circulated the True Qi within his body, spun his great saber, and flashed forward, slashing at the retreating Demonic Scorpion.

A fierce Aura spread, and the surrounding white mist was shattered by the Saber Qi.

"Boom—!"

A loud bang, Saber Qi diffused, impacting all around, Han Li's gaze fixed on the battle.

This slash directly severed the Demonic Scorpion's tail, green liquid flowed out, and a sharp shriek rang out.

The Demonic Scorpion moved frantically, its two large pincers rushing towards the young man, but the next second, the young man gripped his saber and directly confronted it.

Sparks flew.

"Crimson Flame!"

With a fierce shout, the great saber in the young man's hand glowed red, a powerful heatwave swept forth, the great saber turned crimson, and a crimson Saber Qi bloomed, slashing at the Demonic Scorpion.

"Pfft—!!"

This strike precisely pierced through the Demonic Scorpion's back. The Demonic Scorpion's screams rang out, it struggled frantically, but soon fell silent.

Seeing this, the young man also pulled out his great saber.

"Be careful!"

Just then, Han Li suddenly spoke, the young man's nerves twitched, and he instinctively dodged.

"Crack—!"

The ground cracked, the Demonic Scorpion's large pincers moved, but at the critical moment, the young man still dodged.

Before he could strike, a silver light tore through the white mist, like a silver Dragon howling forth.

A 'pfft' sound rang out, a silver long spear pierced through the Demonic Scorpion, and ear-piercing screams rang out again.

It struggled a few times, then completely fell silent. A powerful blood Qi emerged, and Han Li's thoughts moved, instantly sealing the blood Qi into the demon seed as it entered his body.