He had been out hunting for quite some time. Finding bandits was much harder than killing them.
Throughout that time, Wu Yu had become a bottomless pit, wolfing down "Exquisite Food" while inscribing ordinary pebbles with [Bi Fang Sigil] to turn them into usable items.
"I'm stuffed. The fog's coming anyway... time for a break!"
He let out a long breath, leaned against a large rock, and gazed into the distance.
Since he was out hunting bandits, Wu Yu naturally avoided the areas about to be covered in fog. His current position was within the safe inner zone.
Soon, the countdown ended!
Dark clouds and mist blanketed the clear sky, and gray fog spread through the mountains, thickening at a visible rate.
Before long, the gray fog grew so dense that it was impossible to make out what lay within.
Yet strangely, it seemed to be blocked by an invisible boundary, dividing the mountain forest in two without a single wisp crossing over.
"Tower Climbers might be the only ones who encounter this fog."
Wu Yu's expression grew grave.
No matter how he looked at it, this "fog" was extremely dangerous!
First, the [Map] panel had already warned that the fog would inflict damage, even if the fog damage in the [Newcomer Secret Realm] was reduced by eighty percent.
Second, the existence of an Evacuation Point meant the Mysterious Tower did not encourage Tower Climbers to linger here! In that case, the fog was a means of driving them away... or even killing them!
"Whether this is a game or some immortal's idea of a joke..."
"I can't gamble with my life."
A thought stirred in Wu Yu's mind, and he took out the Bronze Token.
When he opened the [Map], he saw that the gray fog had indeed covered a vast area.
Only the inner zone remained relatively safe, and the fog countdown had reset!
Fogfall: 23 hours, 59 minutes, 32 seconds.
"Another day."
"Twenty-four hours is enough, but I won't be able to evacuate with Liu Zheng."
Wu Yu considered this for a moment.
In terms of safety, leaving with Liu Zheng and the others was naturally the best option. There was an official patrol officer among them, and Liu Zheng was a privileged heir loaded with high-tech equipment. He could shoot bandits and villagers dead one by one, and even kill Transcendent Martial Artists!
But... that would also bring the lowest returns.
Wu Yu had already come all this way. There was no way he would head back after fighting for just six hours.
A moment later, he rose, nimbly leaped out from behind the rocks, and continued on his way.
Evil Tiger Stronghold... was not far now!
Two hours later!
Wu Yu climbed a large tree and looked toward the end of a forest trail.
There stood a crude stronghold with a wooden gate and archery towers, guarded by a few burly men lounging around in Beastskin Garments.
Some carried bows, while others wielded chopping blades.
"Evil Tiger Stronghold normally has a few hundred people, and more than half stay outside patrolling, robbing, making sacrifices, and so on! Usually, fewer than a hundred remain inside, but the chief will be there!"
Wu Yu narrowed his eyes and observed for a good while before relaxing slightly.
Know yourself and your enemy, and you could win every battle!
Everything matched the information he had gathered. There were not many people inside Evil Tiger Stronghold.
Perhaps because Liu Zheng had gone on a killing spree, there did not even appear to be a hundred bandits in the stronghold.
"I don't see any elderly, weak, sick, or disabled people... were they all used as sacrifices?"
After watching for a long time, Wu Yu noticed this crucial detail.
Evil Tiger Stronghold knew the Mountain Lord Rite. Through sacrifices, its bandits could become "tiger wraiths" and receive the Mountain Lord's blessing!
But the Mountain Lord had already been wounded by the city's Transcendent Martial Artists. Right now, he probably could not spare any attention for the stronghold.
After all, the Mountain Lord himself had gone into hiding in Lostway Cave!
"Better stay cautious! Let's make a little noise and test them..."
Wu Yu was excited, but he still followed his plan.
He looked behind him. Several crude, homemade cages held a few bound squirrels, several snakes, and some small birds he did not recognize.
Relying on the curving shots and perfect accuracy granted by his [Heaven-Earth State], Wu Yu had punched little animals and kicked little snakes throughout the forest, effortlessly catching a whole bunch.
My cage-making skills are terrible... good thing I only need them for a little while.
Muttering inwardly, Wu Yu picked up several cages and carefully climbed down. He released the small animals in batches, then activated his [Heaven-Earth State] and threw out pebbles without [Bi Fang Sigil].
After learning "Heaven-and-Earth Toss," he had become much more agile. With the stamina supplied by "Exquisite Food" on top of that, Wu Yu darted through the mountain forest at incredible speed.
"Guwa!?"
At the stronghold entrance, several bandits looked puzzled.
"Puwa! Puwa!"
Two archers shouted a few times from the watchtower, and several blade-wielding bandits cautiously entered the forest.
A moment later, they emerged with a squirrel, cursing loudly.
After a while, an archer suddenly turned, drew his bow, and fired at a spot in the distance!
Whoosh-!
The arrow shot into the distance, passed through the treetops, and brought a small bird tumbling down.
"Puwa!"
The bandit archer cursed, then ignored it.
After the first, second, and third incidents, the bandits stopped paying much attention.
"Just as I thought! After performing the Mountain Lord Rite, these bandits became even dumber!"
Behind a large tree, Wu Yu peeked out with half his face exposed, secretly watching them.
"Looks like there aren't any hidden sentries, either. Just the guards in plain sight."
"Maybe that's one of the benefits of the [Newcomer Secret Realm]!"
The panel that had appeared on the [Bronze Token] earlier had stated that not only was the danger reduced, but the rewards were greatly increased as well.
Now that a day had passed, Wu Yu had experienced this firsthand.
If nothing else, enemies with poor brains naturally made things much less dangerous!
"The logic makes sense, too. Looks like this world is fully realized."
"Storage Bags, techniques, Martial Artists..."
He exhaled slowly and slipped into the bushes according to plan.
Since he was close to the stronghold, Wu Yu did not dare consume "Exquisite Food" or "high-grade spirit wine." Keeping his [Heaven-Earth State] active the whole way, he moved like a phantom and soon approached the stronghold gate without a sound.
And because of his earlier false alarms, the bandits were no longer so vigilant. Whenever they heard movement in the forest, they assumed it was a little bird or snake.
There was no cover around the stronghold's main gate. If Wu Yu advanced any farther, he would be exposed.
"I'm still more than ten meters from those bandits!"
He hesitated, then decided not to risk it.
Within ten meters, he could make them explode just by getting them to take another look!
Taking out five pebbles inscribed with [Bi Fang Sigil], Wu Yu drew a deep breath and hurled them!
Whoosh-!
The five stones flew out, wreathed in blood-red vapor, and reached the stronghold entrance in the blink of an eye.
Several bandits noticed them immediately, but once they saw they were only little stones, they paid them no mind and instead looked warily toward Wu Yu's position.
The next moment,
BOOM-!!!
Flames spread across the watchtower, and the explosion tore the archers' bodies apart.
A charred head fell and struck a blade-wielding bandit on the head!
At the same time, the other four stones in midair made sharp turns, each flying in a different direction!
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