Mingai Mountain (thanks to "Cold Words, Cold Tone, Cold Feelings" for the helmsman-level donation)

A group of a dozen or so people walked along a secluded path.

"Judging by the quest, our targets this time are the bandits on Mingai Mountain."

Liu Qinghong walked at the front, speaking as he went.

Zhang Quan, beside him, chimed in, "Mingai Mountain is the bandits' main hideout, basically a dungeon like the ones in the games we used to play. We'll probably encounter more than ordinary bandits this time."

"There's a good chance we'll run into Mingai Mountain's boss."

A boss!

In any game, that was a word guaranteed to draw attention.

Another young man in the group, thin and somewhat artistic-looking, said, "Brother Liu is at the Fourth Level of Martial Entry, almost at Martial Entry Fifth Level, and the rest of us average at least Martial Entry Third Level."

"Even if we run into a Martial Entry Fifth Level boss, we won't be completely helpless."

"But..."

He paused there before continuing.

"This game's realm divisions are different from those in other games. The gap between each level is pretty big. Martial Entry Fifth Level is manageable, but an Entering Martial Sixth Layer boss would be a bit of a problem."

Zhang Quan laughed dismissively. "Chen Wu, you're underestimating Brother Liu, and us too. Fighting bosses above your level is a basic requirement for any team."

"If we don't run into Mingai Mountain's boss, fine. But if we do, we'll take it down while we're there."

At once.

The others in the group began discussing it as they walked.

Only Liu Qinghong stayed out of the discussion.

But judging by his calm expression, he tacitly agreed with Zhang Quan.

Once the others had gradually finished discussing it, Liu Qinghong finally spoke. "Mingai Mountain is one of the largest bandit forces in this area. There are bound to be elite NPCs and high-level bosses among them."

"Our quest this time is only to eliminate fifty bandits. It doesn't specify their levels.

"To avoid any surprises, we'll kill the fifty bandits we need first. If we encounter Mingai Mountain's boss and can beat it, we'll clear the dungeon."

"If we can't, we'll leave. I doubt they'll have much chance of stopping us."

Liu Qinghong's words.

Met with considerable agreement from the others.

After all, completing the quest was their main priority right now.

But if they had a chance to take down a boss too, all the better.

After all—

What made a boss a boss was not just its strength, but the valuable items it could drop.

They had been playing the game for quite some time.

Yet they had never heard of any player in the Novice Village killing a boss.

That made it clear.

Bosses in this game were extremely difficult to defeat.

But it also suggested that defeating such difficult bosses would bring rich rewards.

"So this is Mingai Mountain?"

At the foot of the mountain, Qin Shujian looked up and saw lush, flourishing trees.

"They've done a pretty good job greening Mingai Mountain. It's miles better than that barren dump, Liangshan. When I get back, I should get those bandit underlings to plant some greenery too. At least it'd be easier on the eyes."

The sight of Mingai Mountain made him instinctively compare it with Liangshan.

He would never have realized without comparing them.

Once he did, his heart sank.

Although he had yet to actually set foot on Mingai Mountain, appearances alone already left the Liangshan Stronghold far behind.

But after just a moment, Qin Shujian withdrew his gaze.

Then he followed the winding path before him up Mingai Mountain.

"Stop!"

"Who are you?"

Before Qin Shujian had gone far, two bandits carrying large sabers blocked his way.

Their familiar outfits.

Qin Shujian was reminded of the days when he had been an Ordinary Bandit.

"I am the chief of the Liangshan Stronghold. Please go and announce my arrival."

Wanting to maintain his image, Qin Shujian still cupped his hands and spoke politely.

A trace of confusion appeared in the two bandits' eyes.

One of them, a thin bandit, shook his head. "You can't go up the mountain without the chief's orders."

"So there's no room for discussion?"

"You can't go up the mountain without the chief's orders."

The bandit simply repeated the same sentence.

Qin Shujian took a deep breath, suddenly realizing he was being a bit of an idiot.

He knew perfectly well that these bandits were much like the Liangshan Stronghold's former bandits, dimwits with little intelligence, yet he was still wasting his breath trying to communicate.

Once he understood that.

Qin Shujian could not be bothered to say another word and strode straight up the path.

Seeing this, the two bandits moved to slash at him.

But before their sabers could fall, their bodies were sent flying sideways, knocking down two trees.

They died before they even hit the ground.

To Qin Shujian now, killing two bandits at the Entering Martial First Layer was barely harder than swatting two flies.

As for whether the noise of falling trees would alert the bandits on Mingai Mountain, that was not his concern.

Since he had already made his move.

There was no chance of settling this peacefully.

After casually killing the two bandits, Qin Shujian continued up the mountain.

Before long, two guard posts appeared before him.

Likewise.

The bandits patrolling the guard posts spotted Qin Shujian.

At once.

A dozen or so bandits appeared before him.

This time, however, Qin Shujian wasted no words. He immediately unleashed the Five Elements Eight Trigrams Step, weaving through them like a phantom as he struck repeatedly with the Seven Leaves Piercing Flowers Palm, sending every bandit flying.

Even outside Liangshan's territory.

Qin Shujian was a genuine expert at the Martial Entry Ninth Level.

And he was no ordinary expert at the Martial Entry Ninth Level, either.

After attaining the Full Marrow trait, Qin Shujian's strength had undergone a terrifying transformation.

Every punch and palm strike carried thousands of jin of terrifying force.

Forget ordinary bandits—even a martial entry fifth level expert who took one of his palm strikes head-on would suffer snapped tendons and broken bones, falling dead on the spot.

In just three short seconds.

All thirteen bandits were dead.

The shock waves also struck the two guard posts, bringing them crashing down onto the surrounding trees.

Inside the meeting hall.

Niu Feng lay across his Tiger-Skin Chair, taking a nap.

As the bandit chief of Mingai Mountain, he had plenty of free time unless he was out raiding.

Just then.

The tremendous noise outside startled Niu Feng awake.

As a bandit chief, he had spent years living on a knife's edge and possessed a keen instinct for unknown dangers.

Even though he did not believe anyone would dare cause trouble on his Mingai Mountain.

The moment he woke, Niu Feng rose and picked up the Nine-Ring Great Saber resting in front of his chair.

Then he walked out of the meeting hall, saber in hand.

"What happened?"

His question was directed at the two bandits guarding the entrance to the meeting hall.

One of the bandits answered in a trembling voice, "Chief, it looks like someone is forcing their way into our stronghold."

Niu Feng flew into a rage. "Who the hell dares barge into my Mingai Mountain? Do they have a death wish?"

No sooner had he finished speaking.

Than several more deafening crashes rang out.

Before the eyes of Niu Feng and the two bandits.

Several wooden buildings collapsed as though they had been smashed apart.

Thanks to the brother who donated while reading, giving this book its first helmsman-level supporter. I'm also very grateful to everyone who has been donating and voting lately. This book's promotion to a featured category recommendation next week is all thanks to you.