Chapter 102: The Mountain Bandits’ Camp
After sprinting for an hour.
They finally shook off the pursuers.
The players took a brief rest and used another bottle of Concealment Potion to avoid leaving any scent trails that could be tracked.
Ye Li Meng asked, "Roughly how much farther?"
"At full speed for one more hour, we should arrive," Zhou Ji replied. "But thirty li ahead lies a place called Xi Village, which has now been occupied by foreign races. It won’t be easy to pass through safely."
Salted Fish Thrust cursed, "Damn it, why are these lizardmen everywhere?"
Chimera Wraith said, "After all, the Dragon Lizard Lord arrived at Woniu Mountain earlier than us."
Black-Eyed Rui Ge suggested, "Old Pig, send the eagle to scout ahead, just in case there’s an ambush waiting for us."
Midnight Pig Slayer took out a Mana Replenishment Pill. "Sigh, although this skill is very useful, it consumes a lot. Fortunately, I prepared enough mana potions before setting out this time, otherwise I wouldn’t even be able to use it twice before collapsing."
As he spoke, he swallowed the Mana Replenishment Pill.
Then, he summoned the Thunderhorn Eagle once again.
Midnight Pig Slayer controlled the Thunderhorn Eagle to fly ahead.
The others rode at a steady trot behind him, staying alert for any sudden incidents.
The Thunderhorn Eagle could not stray more than ten li from its summoner, but relying on its high-altitude scouting advantage, it was enough to take in the situation within dozens of li around. Before long, a small town appeared in view.
Xi Village originally was just a rural town with around three hundred households. Even at its peak, its population never exceeded a thousand people. Within three to five li nearby, there were two even smaller abandoned villages, and surrounding the area were numerous fields.
They saw at least several hundred enslaved human serfs scattered across the fields, cultivating unknown crops, with several squads of Dragon Lizard soldiers patrolling nearby.
Sure enough, the area had been completely taken over by the Dragon Lizard people.
Although these ordinary fields did not grow spirit plants very efficiently, the sheer scale made up for it. As long as there was enough labor and time, they could still produce plenty of spiritual herbs.
After all, for a lord, building Spiritual Fields was extremely costly, and even a common Tier-One Spiritual Field was only the size of a small vegetable plot. Even with a hundredfold production speed, it would not meet the massive needs of an entire territory.
Under these circumstances.
In order to maximize profits.
Lords would typically enslave the natives and force them into labor, using the cheapest, lowliest serfs for production.
Hundreds of laborers were nothing; with thousands, tens of thousands, or even hundreds of thousands, they could create enormous value for the territory, and common natives only needed a handful of ordinary food to sustain themselves, costing the lords very little.
"Damn these lizardmen!"
"If only we could bring all these people back."
"Yeah, our territory is still lacking in manpower. Besides, if the NPC population increases, maybe our player slots will also expand."
"Stop dreaming!"
"Just with us few, how could we possibly pull that off?"
When the players saw the large number of enslaved natives, they gritted their teeth in anger. In their eyes, most of these Three Kingdoms era natives were their own people, yet sadly, with their current strength, they could not liberate them.
The scouting continued.
The Thunderhorn Eagle began circling above Xi Village.
The originally crude village had been transformed by the Dragon Lizard people. They not only built defensive walls but also several buildings in the style of the Stars, such as arrow towers and barracks.
"This is bad!"
"There’s an enemy garrison!"
"And it looks like there are quite a lot of them!"
Xi Village had not only been heavily fortified but was now home to at least a hundred Dragon Lizard soldiers. Perhaps due to its proximity to the county seat, it had been transformed into a strategically significant stronghold.
Midnight Pig Slayer tried to maneuver the Thunderhorn Eagle closer, hoping to get a clear view of the troop distribution and building layouts, ideally locating the Stars Blessing Point, as all this would be important intel that would surely prove useful later.
However.
At that moment.
The Dragon Lizard people became agitated.
They had clearly noticed the Thunderhorn Eagle.
Feeling that things were going south, Midnight Pig Slayer tried to recall his summoned creature.
But just then, a high-ranking Dragon Lizard who looked like a general hurled a short spear directly.
【Your summoned creature "Thunderhorn Eagle" has died. Skill cooldown increased by 60 minutes.】
"Damn it!"
"What happened?"
"This village has been turned into a barracks, housing about one to two hundred soldiers. There’s at least one Dragon Lizard general guarding it. He just killed my Thunderhorn Eagle with one shot."
Everyone’s faces changed at these words.
"There must be a Stars Teleportation Point inside Xi Village."
"This means Dragon Lizard soldiers from other parts of Woniu Mountain can teleport here at any time. Meanwhile, we haven’t activated even a single teleportation point yet, so even if we had forces, we couldn’t reinforce in time. If war breaks out, there’s no way we could win."
"Exactly! Plus, we only have a dozen or so people now—not enough to pose a threat!"
"The Dragon Lizard people must have already noticed us nearby. They will definitely be on higher alert now. The Dragon Lizard Lord might even send more subordinates. This place is no longer safe for us to linger."
"Retreat quickly!"
"Let’s get the hell out!"
"……"
The players hurriedly fled.
Black-Eyed Rui Ge asked, "Brother Zhou, is there any other route besides this one?"
Zhou Ji thought for a moment and said, "Yes, we can bypass Xi Village by taking the mountain path along Woniu Mountain’s west side. However, that path is very secluded and overrun with Abyssal creatures. It hasn’t been used for at least ten years. I doubt these foreign races know about it."
"That’s great!"
"What are we waiting for then?"
"Let’s take the small path!"
The players heaved a sigh of relief upon hearing there was another option.
But Zhou Ji wore a serious expression and said, "Although this path lets us avoid the enemy ahead, it’s not without dangers. After all, it’s very close to Woniu Mountain where Abyssal creatures run rampant."
Mad Blade Old Wang said, "Most Abyssal creatures are brainless and lack intelligence. It’s still better than dealing with a structured army."
Ye Li Meng agreed, "That’s right! We’ll take that path!"
The players unanimously made their decision.
After all, at the current stage, the Dragon Lizard soldiers’ individual combat ability far surpassed human soldiers. Aside from top experts like Lone Boat, Ye Li Meng, Black-Eyed Rui Ge, and Mad Blade Old Wang, most players would lose even a one-on-one fight against a same-level Dragon Lizard soldier.
Not to mention that the Dragon Lizard forces had a clear advantage in numbers and organization, including leaders and multiple Tier-Two units.
Taking the side path might be dangerous.
But sticking to the main route meant certain death.
Zhou Ji led seventeen players into a dense mountain forest. Perhaps because it was close to the core pollution zone of Woniu Mountain, the Abyssal corruption here was visibly severe.
The ground was covered by a thick carpet of flesh-like mycelium. Even the densely packed trees around them were covered with writhing fleshy tumors. Additionally, there were many monsters lurking nearby.
【Abyssal Undead】，Level 8, Normal Unit...
The players encountered a group of Abyssal Undead here. Compared to the Undead wandering near Luoshui Execution Ground, these ones were of higher level and exhibited even more grotesque physical mutations.
Of course.
They were still just Undead.
They did not pose much of a threat.
The players used bows and spells to clean them up, wiping out most of them before they could even approach. Even the few that slipped through could not withstand the players’ blades.
【You have picked up loot: Essence +450, Abyssal Magic Stone Fragment +600, Undead Scythe +1!】
【You have picked up loot: Essence +450, Abyssal Magic Stone Fragment +600, Undead Robe +1!】
【……】
In no time at all.
The players had cleared out over a hundred wandering Abyssal Undead.
Niu Shisan could not help but complain, "The drops from these Undead are so miserably poor!"
Black-Eyed Rui Ge nodded and said, "In terms of direct drops like Magic Stones, Magic Crystals, and Abyssal Essence, Dragon Lizard soldiers are clearly better than humanoid elite monsters, and humanoid monsters are better than non-humanoid elite monsters. We’ve killed quite a few lizardmen lately, so it’s natural to feel a huge drop-off in loot by comparison."
Salted Fish Thrust said, "Abyssal Undead aren’t even elite monsters, so it’s normal for the drops to be poor. But we can win through numbers."
"Exactly!"
"Don’t treat mosquito meat as worthless."
"Besides, these Abyssal Undead aren’t even mosquitoes."
The group cleared monsters as they moved forward and discovered a canyon.
Zhou Ji said, "Once we pass through this canyon and continue along a winding mountain path, we can bypass Xi Village and enter the area where Sanxiang County is located from another direction."
"Very good!"
"Let’s hurry up!"
"Time is tight!"
"We only have six or seven hours left!"
"Don’t get careless. This place seems kind of strange. Doesn’t look easy to pass through!"
After entering the canyon, the players discovered—
The pollution in this place was far worse than expected.
【You have been affected by 'Abyssal Corruption', All Attributes -3!】
The entire canyon was enveloped in a dense blood mist, and once players entered the area, all their attributes dropped to varying degrees.
Ye Li Meng said, "Damn! Why is the corruption here so severe?"
Little Ma said, "Yeah, it’s almost comparable to the core corruption zone of Luoshui Execution Ground!"
Little Bell couldn’t help but ask, "Uncle Zhou Ji, has the corruption in this place always been this severe?"
Zhou Ji shook his head, indicating he wasn’t sure. "Ever since the Abyss descended, all areas near Woniu Mountain have become extremely dangerous. I haven’t walked this way in many years either."
Salted Fish Thrust sighed, "This isn’t even inside Woniu Mountain—just close to it—yet the Abyssal aura is already this dense. Who knows what it’s like deeper in?"
Chenxi nodded and said, "The core pollution source here is clearly stronger than that of Luoshui Execution Ground. It's just that for some unknown reason, it seems to be sealed or suppressed."
Zhou Ji’s eyes flashed with a gleam. "That must be my adoptive father’s doing!"
He explained, "I still remember during the first twenty years, every time the Day of Ultimate Darkness came, many people would die, and entire villages and towns were wiped out. I was rescued by my adoptive father during one of those events."
"Later on, my adoptive father went missing deep within Woniu Mountain, and since then the Abyssal creatures there rarely expanded outward. I believe my adoptive father played a crucial role in that."
The players all gave their approval.
"That does sound about right."
"Zhou Cang was a paragon of loyalty and righteousness in all of history."
"He definitely could’ve made the ultimate sacrifice for the sake of others!"
"But then again, we don’t even know Zhou Cang’s current status. Who’s the big boss of the Woniu Mountain region anyway?"
Salted Fish Thrust asked directly, "Brother Zhou, when you were living with General Zhou Cang back then, did he ever mention the identity or clues about the core polluter?"
"No, he didn’t!"
Zhou Ji sighed, "I tried entering Woniu Mountain several times to search for my adoptive father, but I failed every time due to my limited strength. I’m still not strong enough to break in!"
"What? Even Uncle Zhou couldn’t get in?"
"So Woniu Mountain is really that dangerous?"
"Looks like we need to get out of here quickly."
"Yeah!"
The players now fully realized how dangerous the core corruption zone of Woniu Mountain was, so they hurried up, wanting to leave as soon as possible.
But just then, a sharp whistling sound tore through the air.
"Watch out!"
"Ambush!"
Mad Blade Old Wang reacted instantly.
He raised his shield and stood in front of several fragile mages.
They heard several heavy thuds as arrows shrouded in black energy slammed into the shield, and the terrifying force actually knocked the Level 9 warrior back two steps.
Clang! Clang!
Zhou Ji also immediately drew his sword and deflected several arrows.
The seventeen players on site were all experienced veterans. They instantly sought cover and made ready for battle, while quickly trying to locate the monster that had launched the ambush.
"What the hell?!"
Street Slayer drew his two massive sabers and leapt out, activating Iron Armor Technique and charging toward the direction from which the arrows had come. After dodging a few more arrows, he finally caught sight of the attackers.
【Demonic Mountain Bandit】, Level 7 Elite Unit... Description: Former mountain bandits of Woniu Mountain who were corrupted by the Abyss and transformed into terrifying humanoid monsters.
Four or five figures appeared ahead.
The Demonic Mountain Bandits were humanoid monsters, but their bodies had become grotesquely distorted. Their skin, organs, and flesh had all been torn into grid-like structures, resembling dolls woven from twisted tree roots of varying thickness. They were fifty percent taller than normal humans, and their facial features were nearly indistinguishable.
Despite their distorted bodies, they could still wield weapons and even draw bows.
"So damn ugly! Take two blades from me first!"
Street Slayer rushed the monsters, his twin sabers slashing into one of the Demonic Mountain Bandits—but the feedback made it feel like he was cutting not flesh, but a solid and extremely tough piece of wood.
36!
This damage clearly meant nothing to a Level 7 elite monster!
The Demonic Mountain Bandit immediately counterattacked, swinging a massive axe at high speed. Street Slayer raised his sabers to block, but the immense force hurled him five or six meters backward on the spot.
Seeing this, Black-Eyed Rui Ge quickly said, "These monsters have tough bodies, incredible strength, and amazing speed. Physical attacks probably won’t work. Try magic!"
"On it!"
Little Bell raised her Level 8 white-quality staff and quickly fired off a Flame Arrow. It struck one of the Demonic Mountain Bandits, dealing massive damage and setting its body ablaze.
162 (Critical Hit!)
"It works!"
The group immediately adjusted their strategy.
The warriors held the line against the Demonic Mountain Bandits’ attacks, while the rangers distracted them to create openings for the mages.
Though the Demonic Mountain Bandits had great physical defense, strength, and speed, their resistance to magic was extremely low. With the players’ current strength, they had no trouble handling them.
Not to mention, they had the powerful Tier-Two elite NPC Zhou Ji present.
Even if something unexpected happened.
They could still guarantee complete safety.
In no time at all, five Demonic Mountain Bandits were wiped out.
【You have picked up loot: Essence +2500, Abyssal Magic Stone Fragment +6000, Demonic Mountain Bandit Battle Axe +1!】
【You have picked up loot: Essence +2500, Abyssal Magic Stone Fragment +6000, Demonic Mountain Bandit War Bow +1!】
【……】
The players picked up the loot.
The drops from the Demonic Mountain Bandits were standard for Level 7 elite units.
Although the Essence and Magic Stones were significantly fewer compared to Dragon Lizard soldiers, the equipment they dropped was upper-mid quality white gear—not only with great stats, but also immediately usable—each piece was quite valuable!
"Why are there humanoid monsters?"
"Something feels weird around here."
"Better not rush ahead. Let’s scout the area first!"
After some discussion, the players decided to pause their advance and let Lone Boat, Black-Eyed Rui Ge, and Grey Wood—who were rangers—first scout the area to avoid any surprises.
About a quarter of an hour later.
Two of the weaker rangers returned.
"There’s a large number of Demonic Mountain Bandits nearby!"
"And ahead, there’s something that looks like a bandit stronghold."
"There might even be a big boss in there. Since our Shadow Step skill isn’t maxed, forcing a deep scout might alert the enemy, so we retreated for now. But Lone Boat and Rui Ge have already gone in!"
The other players were surprised.
Even Zhou Ji hadn’t expected this.
There was actually a mountain bandit stronghold nearby.
Could it be that the Abyssal creatures of Woniu Mountain had already started spreading outward?