From A Stronghold NPC To The Final BOSS

In the Zhongyi Hall, Qin Shujian sat on the tallest seat, then looked at the two people below him, and asked, “How did your investigation of the Messy Stone Forest go?”

“The Messy Stone Forest is being ravaged by outlanders. The situation there is very chaotic.”

“Ravaged by outlanders?” Qin Shujian squinted slightly.

Zhang Tieniu nodded and said, “That’s right. A village of outlanders also descended within the Messy Stone Forest. There are no fewer than outlanders there than the Starter Village #10021 that we had eradicated.”

“Also, the strength of these outlanders is also increasing at a rapid rate. Originally, each faction of all three Mountain Bandits had occupied an area. Now, under the pressure of the outlanders, they are gradually forced to join forces to resist the invasion of the outlanders.”

His expression also turned grave when he said the word “outlander.”

Fortunately, since the Liangshan Stronghold had leveled up to become a Level One Faction, he had reached Martial Entry-Level Four.

Otherwise, he might have met with misfortune when he entered the Messy Stone Forest.

Qin Shujian was not surprised to hear this.

The speed at which a player could enhance their abilities was not something that could be matched by an NPC.

Also, with the players’ tendency to ravage everything they came across, the faction of Mountain Bandits in the Messy Stone Forest would definitely be eradicated when the players reached a certain level of strength.

Even the alliance of the three groups of Mountain Bandits was unable to make the players feel threatened.

It was a pity.

Judging from Zhang Tieniu’s report, these Mountain Bandits didn’t understand the players at all.

A player was like a centipede that was unafraid of death. Coupled with their shocking speed of growth, the Mountain Bandits had already lost when they chose to join forces to defend against the players.

If they truly wanted to suppress the players, they had to wholly and decisively eradicate them before they got strong.

Otherwise, they would be beaten by the players sooner or later.

If Qin Shujian had only been deliberating about whether or not to attack the Messy Stone Forest, he no longer had any hesitation now that he heard Zhang Tieniu’s report.

He had to take action!

Even though the players were only ravaging through the Messy Stone Forest for the time being.

The Messy Stone Forest was situated extremely close to the Liangshan territory.

With the players’ fervent sense of exploration, it wouldn’t be long before they reached for the Liangshan territory.

Rather than being beaten to it, Qin Shujian might as well seize the initiative and attack.

The more he thought about it, the more Qin Shujian felt that this idea was logical.

Thus, he immediately questioned, “How strong are the three groups of Mountain Bandits? Are there any experts at Martial Entry-Level Six or higher?”

“According to my understanding, the most powerful of the three groups of Mountain Bandits was only at Martial Entry-Level Five. However, now that the outlanders are attacking them, we cannot rule out the possibility that they might have leveled up.”

“However, according to my estimation, Martial Entry-Level Six should be the absolute limit. It’s doubtful that they are more powerful than that.”

The bandits could level up by killing outlanders. However, they couldn’t level up without limit.

Leveling up past Martial Entry-Level Six required the outlanders to be no weaker than Martial Entry-Level Three.

That was a difficult requirement to meet.

“Martial Entry-Level Six?”

Hearing this, Qin Shujian deliberated for a moment and then issued an order, “Help me send a letter to the Mountain Bandits in the Messy Stone Forest.”

He admitted that he was not a brutal person.

Even though he had already made preparations to attack the Messy Stone Forest, Qin Shujian didn’t want to attack the Mountain Bandits unless it was absolutely necessary.

After all, they were all men of the forest.

He was now an NPC. They were basically of the same race.

Qin Shujian felt that he could not easily do something like massacring someone of the same race as him.

Then, Qin Shujian wrote three letters, one for each faction of the Mountain Bandits, and handed it over to Zhang Tieniu.

He believed the Mountain Bandits in the Messy Stone Forest would feel his brimming sincerity upon reading his letter.

After he gave a few instructions, Qin Shujian immediately gathered all of the Mountain Bandits from the Liangshan Stronghold.

The Mountain Bandits only had a day to reply. Even though he didn’t think that there was a high possibility that the Mountain Bandits would decline, it was best to be prepared.

If any problems would arise, then he would immediately lead his men and annihilate the Messy Stone Forest.

On the other side, after receiving Qin Shujian’s order, Zhang Tieniu carried the three letters and sprinted straight for the Messy Stone Forest.

The distance between Liangshan and the Messy Stone Forest was only 20 miles. With a Martial Entry-Level Four fighter’s footwork, it didn’t take very long to traverse the distance.

But the Messy Stone Forest was much larger than the Liangshan territory. In fact, it was about two or three times larger.

Even though the three factions of Mountain Bandits were not spaced too far apart, they weren’t grouped either.

Thus, Zhang Tieniu spent a full three hours delivering all three of the letters.

Also, he immediately turned to leave when the letters landed in the hands of the Mountain Bandits. He didn’t stay for even a second longer.

He didn’t even see the contents of the letters.

However, he had a premonition and did not dare to stay any longer.

If the letters contained bad news, then there might be no way for a Martial Entry-Level Four fighter like him to escape after he slipped into the den of Mountain Bandits.

******

...

However, Zhang Tieniu had not run too far away.

A deafening roar of fury spread from within a stronghold.

“This is too much!” Niu Feng’s face was red. His broad hands immediately crushed the white piece of paper to nothing. There was a flame of fury in his bell-shaped eyes. It felt as though it was about to spew out at any time.

He had naturally heard about the reputation of the Liangshan Stronghold.

After all, their territories were connected. He knew a little about them even though they had not established much of a relationship.

From Niu Feng’s perspective, the Liangshan territory and the Messy Stone Forest never meddled in each other’s affairs.

Thus, he had been rather polite when someone from the Liangshan Stronghold came to deliver the letter. He had not made it hard for the other party.

But now, Niu Feng regretted that he had not kept the messenger behind and cleaved him into pieces after that.

“I am the Liangshan Stronghold Chieftain, Qin Shujian. I’ve heard about your reputation within the Messy Stone Forest and cannot help but feel a deep sense of respect.”

That was the starting paragraph of the letter.

It seemed normal.

...

However, what infuriated Niu Feng was the content that followed.

“I heard that outlanders are ravaging the Messy Stone Forest. The Liangshan Stronghold is willing to help resolve the crisis of the outlanders. However, as compensation, Mount Mingai would have to join the Liangshan Stronghold.”

“I’m giving you a day to consider. If you refuse, the Liangshan Stronghold will clear off all obstacles.”

There was a second layer of meaning in those words.

Niu Feng felt the provocation in those words.

Mount Mingai had lorded over the Messy Stone Forest for decades. As the leader of Mount Mingai, no one had dared to act this insolently in front of him, much less publicly threaten him.

If not for the harassment of the outlanders that made Niu Feng unwilling to divert too much attention away...

He would have mobilized the full strength of the mountain to wage war against the Liangshan Stronghold.

As for the time stated in the letter, Niu Feng completely disregarded it.

“I do wish to see what kind of capabilities a small Liangshan Stronghold has for them to dare spout such insolent words of leveling Mount Mingai!”

Niu Feng’s expression turned ice-cold as he enunciated every word.

But he came to his senses after his fury subsided.

The Liangshan Stronghold might seem to be only targeting Mount Mingai in the letter, but in the grander scheme of things, they seemed to be targeting the entirety of the Messy Stone Forest.

Without understanding the other party’s background, Niu Feng was unwilling to take on the threat alone.

“Mount Mingai is not the only faction in the Messy Stone Forest.”