Three days later, in a secluded forest outside the Great Ridge City, a figure in a black robe emerged slowly, looking up at the occasional passersby on the road. After discerning the direction, the figure began to walk south along the road. The footsteps of the black-robed figure were not particularly swift; however, if one were to observe closely, they would notice that with each step, the figure advanced nearly a meter and a half in a rather eerie manner. It was as though performing a small-scale teleportation, quite peculiar indeed.
The black-robed figure emerging from the forest was none other than Xiao Yan, who had been hiding there to refine the necessary medicinal pills. In these three days, with the help of the Pharmacist Elder, he had replenished his storage ring with various restorative and healing pills. With these ample reserves of pills, Xiao Yan felt somewhat more at ease. On the Dou Qi Continent, travelers always carried such restorative items as essential, for they could be life-saving.
“This road leads directly beyond the border. However, along the way, there are three military fortresses. The lords of the first two fortresses are not to be feared, but the last fortress is said to have thirty thousand troops stationed there. Moreover, the deputy commander is an elder of the Yun Lan Sect, supposedly named Meng Li, with a strength at the Dou Ling level. Since the Yun Lan Sect’s wanted notice has already reached the Great Ridge City, it is likely that the elder of the Yun Lan Sect has received it.”
Xiao Yan’s steps were neither hurried nor slow, and his body flickered strangely on the road. In his mind, he was constantly calculating how to leave the Jia Ma Empire smoothly.
“Currently, I am almost unable to move an inch in the Jia Ma Empire. I’m sure Yun Shan can guess that I will flee the empire. Therefore, he must be placing a great deal of emphasis on this final checkpoint. That Meng Li might have already received special instructions from Yun Shan. It seems that trying to leave easily from there will be quite difficult…”
His face completely hidden in shadow, Xiao Yan frowned at the thought of the difficulties ahead.
“Those border fortresses have walls as massive as small mountains, and within them, there must be countless archers and crossbowmen proficient in shooting and riding, as well as energy shields. And fortresses capable of defending the border must surely have defenses against aerial assaults, otherwise, during a war, foreign powerhouses could easily enter. Sigh… it seems that trying to pass through this final checkpoint as easily as the Great Ridge City is quite impossible.”
Shaking his head in frustration, Xiao Yan sighed softly. In the Jia Ma Empire, there was a military order prohibiting anyone from flying over the key fortresses near the border. If discovered, one would face a devastating attack.
“I can only take it step by step. If all else fails, I’ll have to risk it and force my way through…”
Shaking his head, Xiao Yan stopped overthinking and focused all his energy on the journey ahead. Though the distance from the Great Ridge City to the border of the Jia Ma Empire was not short, it was relatively so. For ordinary people, it would take at least ten to fifteen days to travel the few hundred miles. Even with Xiao Yan’s speed, and using the Purple Cloud Wings to fly part of the way, it still took him three days to pass through the two fortresses along this route.
As Xiao Yan had surmised, the higher-ups in the first two fortresses, lacking Yun Lan Sect members, did not take the unofficial wanted notice seriously. The garrisoned troops also paid little attention to the notice, allowing Xiao Yan to pass through without much trouble.
However, even though he had passed through the two fortresses, Xiao Yan’s mood was not much lighter, for he knew the most troublesome part was yet to come: the last, massive fortress known as the “Ghost Suppressing Pass.” As a key military stronghold on the imperial border, its defenses were like a celestial net, with soldiers battle-hardened from real wars, far superior to the pampered city guards. This military stronghold would be the final barrier preventing Xiao Yan from leaving the Jia Ma Empire. Only by breaking through here could he truly soar like a dragon in the sea or an eagle in the sky, free from any constraints.
Thus, this breakthrough was crucial. The next day, after passing through the second fortress, the massive structure loomed in sight. Standing on a hill, Xiao Yan looked at the towering walls that seemed to stretch endlessly. He could hear the distant, synchronized sounds of drills and exercises, and he couldn’t help but sigh. The combined aura of tens of thousands of soldiers was as fierce as that of the Yun Lan Sect’s combined array.
Freedom awaited on the other side of the walls, but Xiao Yan was in a quandary. The massive fortress was like a tiger blocking his path. “A forced flight might not be reliable. It looks like I’ll have to try to sneak in…”
Scanning the road below, he saw the caravans and hesitated before retreating back into the forest.
On the dirt road, a large group of about a hundred people marched towards the fortress, their voices echoing. Dressed in uniform, they seemed to be from the same mercenary group. Such groups, with around a hundred members, were considered medium-sized in the Jia Ma Empire.
Because the “Ghost Suppressing Pass” was near the border, its chaotic atmosphere was favored by some mercenary groups. Instead of hunting beasts, they preferred to be war mercenaries, aiding one side in conflicts for substantial rewards. Though the rewards were high, so was the danger. A mistake in the war zone could result in the entire group being wiped out.
Several hundred miles east of the fortress, through some small nations and tribes, lay the notorious “Black-Corner Region,” a place known for its chaos. Due to its unique terrain, it was the most chaotic region on the continent, drawing many fleeing powerhouses and various races, creating a miniature continent. In the “Black-Corner Region,” lawlessness reigned, and the only rule was the jungle law: the strong prey on the weak.
In this purely lawless land, one could do anything, even rape women in public. Of course, one had to choose their target wisely, or they would face dire consequences. Women in the “Black-Corner Region” were sometimes more terrifying than men, simply because they survived.
The “Black-Corner Region” was also a hub for intelligence, with countless pieces of information flowing in and out daily. If you wanted to become famous, this was the fastest way, provided you had the strength and resources. Every day, powerful individuals either died or flocked to this region, filled with death, challenge, and temptation. Rare high-level martial arts, combat techniques, and various treasures were abundant here, and it was even rumored that earth-grade martial arts had appeared in its auction houses.
To obtain these, one had to pay a price, whether in money or other valuables. In the “Black-Corner Region,” there was no such thing as a free lunch. The human fascination with chaos and darkness drew many to this dangerous region, hoping for a shortcut to fame, advanced techniques, or immense wealth.
In the center of the “Black-Corner Region,” paradoxically, stood the renowned Gan Nan Academy, a place of peace. Anyone bringing the “Black-Corner Region’s” violence to the area would be found the next day, hanging as a dried corpse from a tree. It was said that on the tree known as the Spirit Tree, two Dou Wangs and a Battle Emperor had once been hung.
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