Mission, Entering the Mountain Range

Charles also tried to persuade him with earnest words.

"Actually, with your talent, there's no need for this. Steady cultivation will surely lead you to become a Grand Magus, and there's even a glimmer of hope for the Saint Realm."

"That's right, Jonathan. Are you not planning to attend the academy's classes anymore?"

Jonathan had already self-studied everything a year or two ago; he only went to the classroom to keep up appearances so that no one would grow suspicious.

He had read a vast number of magic tomes in the library and discovered that some of the theories within were extremely practical for him.

While others were still diligently practicing magic corresponding to their levels, he had already begun walking the path of magical improvement.

And the process was going very smoothly.

He felt it might be because the Soul Dao Fruit had strengthened his soul and enhanced his comprehension.

He didn't bother to get to the bottom of it; regardless of the reason, it was, in any case, entirely beneficial to him.

Jonathan smiled slightly, "Do you think missing a month or two of classes will have any impact on me?"

"Even if I fall behind, I can catch up very quickly."

"I know you're impressive, fine, I can't talk you out of it. In any case, the Magical Beast Mountain Range is very dangerous, take care of yourself!"

"Come back safely!"

"Come back safely!"

"Thanks. My treat today, let's go out and grab a meal."

"It has been a long time since we all hung out together. Let's go, let's go!"

Several days later, Jonathan received a letter asking him to go see Xue Yan.

"Master Xue Yan, what do you need me for? Could it be that there is a mission for me?"

"Very sharp. Didn't you say you were going to the Magical Beast Mountain Range? The Saber organization received an assassination commission these past few days, and the target is also heading to the Magical Beast Mountain Range. I thought since you're going the same way, you might as well take it to practice your skills."

"Tell me the specific details of the mission first."

Xue Yan explained it briefly, and Jonathan said, "The leader of the Iron Armor Mercenary Group, a seventh-rank warrior. You really think highly of me. Besides, they are entering the Magical Beast Mountain Range as an entire mercenary group. Aren't you afraid that my assassination will fail and I'll end up dead in the Magical Beast Mountain Range?"

"Saber has invested so much into training me, surely you wouldn't want me to perish prematurely."

"Stop with the glib talk, I know you better than that!"

Xue Yan said, "If it were any other assassin, even a seventh-rank warrior, the chances of success wouldn't be very high, but I believe in you."

"A dual practitioner of magic and martial arts, a peak sixth-rank warrior, a sixth-rank magus, plus the Assassination Art I personally taught you—young man, don't look down on yourself."

"Fine, since you've put it that way, I have to accept it even if I don't want to."

"Don't worry, the person who issued the mission will assist you from the shadows, and I have specifically raised your price. You are now a gold-tier assassin of my Saber."

"I don't trust him. A man who would assassinate his own brother for profit—if I were to accidentally fall into a dangerous situation, he would likely silence me the moment he could."

"Then will you allow yourself to fall into such a situation?" Xue Yan raised the corner of his mouth and asked in return.

They, as assassins, only do the job and do not ask for the reasons.

Jonathan smiled without a word.

"He has already paid a deposit of twenty thousand, and the remaining gold coins will be delivered once the mission is complete."

"Understood."

He left after a while, bought some dry rations in Black Phoenix City, and then set off toward the Magical Beast Mountain Range.

Traveling east from Black Phoenix City, one can reach the Magical Beast Mountain Range in a few days.

He wore plain clothes and a black cloak, hiding his features beneath the hood; unless one was very close, it would be difficult to see his full appearance.

This was also a basic skill for an assassin: how to hide oneself.

After walking for about half a day, Jonathan saw two sixth-year students from the Ulada Magic Academy on the road.

He had met them once before.

Because he had a good memory, he recognized them.

He did not greet them, and with his footwork, he easily overtook them.

A few days later, he saw an endless mountain range stretching across the north and south appearing before his eyes.

"Truly magnificent!"

Peaks rose one after another in the Magical Beast Mountain Range; as far as the eye could see, there was nothing but mountains, like an endless ocean.

It nurtured countless magical beasts, an inexhaustible number, and even Saint Realm magical beasts were numerous and distributed everywhere.

Jonathan quickened his pace and soon merged into the mountain range.

After entering the mountains, there were ancient trees everywhere that had grown for who knows how many thousands or tens of thousands of years, each one blocking out the sky and sun.

All kinds of weeds grew everywhere, thorns were rampant, and withered leaves covered the ground in a thick pile, making a "rustling" sound when stepped upon.

However, strangely, when Jonathan walked on the ground, he made no sound at all, as if he weren't stepping on the leaves at all.

This was also part of the Assassination Art taught by Xue Yan: how to eliminate one's own sound as much as possible.

"I haven't been in here long, and I've already encountered a magical beast. It really is crawling with them."

He sensed a life force about a dozen meters ahead. Although it was well-hidden, it couldn't escape Jonathan's perception.

Jonathan struck first, stomping his foot to send a ripple through the ground. A massive stone spike erupted from the spot where the beast was hiding, impaling a giant python and leaving its entire body suspended on the tip.

"So it was a python. Looks like it's only at the level of a third-rank magical beast."

He raised his hand and conjured another stone spike out of thin air. It was incredibly sharp, and with a flick of his wrist, he sent it flying into the python's head, ending its life.

According to what Jonathan knew, the outer hundred miles of the Magical Beast Mountain Range were mostly populated by low-rank magical beasts. If one ventured deeper, seventh, eighth, and even ninth-rank magical beasts would gradually become more common.

Of course, there were also cases where ninth-rank magical beasts would wander out from the depths of the mountains to stroll through the outer regions.

If you ran into one of those, you could only blame your own bad luck.

Dark Magic was inherently good at concealment and suppressing one's aura, and combined with the sophisticated assassination techniques he had learned, he still didn't dare to move too quickly through the Magical Beast Mountain Range.

If he were to accidentally fall into a swarm of magical beasts, even he would find it difficult to avoid injury.

By the third day of entering the mountains, Jonathan had killed dozens of magical beasts. They were all low-rank and of little value; after all, the magic core of a sixth-rank magical beast was only worth a thousand gold coins.

Jonathan had originally come to the Magical Beast Mountain Range to find seventh or eighth-rank magical beasts to practice on and test his improved magic.

However, since he had accepted an assassin mission, he had to take care of that first.

One hundred thousand gold coins was a significant sum.

He didn't value money above all else, but he couldn't deny that money was a good thing.

This time, the Iron Armor Mercenary Group was going to search for rare herbs and a large number of Blazing Rhino Horns.

A Blazing Rhino Horn was the single horn on the forehead of a sixth-rank Blazing Rhino. It was quite valuable; not only was it hard, but it also had medicinal properties. A single horn could sell for several thousand gold coins on the market, making it even more expensive than the beast's magic core.

Jonathan continued on his way, his destination being the gathering grounds of the Blazing Rhino herd.

Two days later, he arrived at the location.

However, there was no sign of the Iron Armor Mercenary Group yet.

"Calculating the time, they should have entered the mountains two days ago. I expect them to arrive within the next day or two."

"I'll just wait, then."

As someone who had undergone rigorous assassin training, he certainly possessed that much patience.

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