Lying in the grass, surrounded by howling winds, Xiao Yan dared not move an inch, fearing that the mysterious entity lurking in the darkness had not yet departed, ready to strike at any moment. In the darkness, there was no sense of time. Just as a faint restlessness began to stir in Xiao Yan’s heart, a thread of weak sunlight suddenly penetrated the darkness. The scene was akin to a seamless egg being gently cracked, allowing warm light to dispel the shadows.
With the first ray of light, more and more beams of sunlight began to flood in, and the roaring winds gradually weakened until they dissipated entirely. Seeing the slightly brightened sky, Xiao Yan finally let out a breath of relief. He cautiously rose to his feet and looked around. Not far away, he saw the merchant caravan beginning to reorganize, and he quickly hurried toward it.
As Xiao Yan approached the caravan, he saw the joyful, round face of Doma.
“Mr. Yao Yan, are you alright? When I couldn’t find you earlier, I was so worried,” Doma rushed over, visibly relieved.
“I’m fine. I was just carried away by the wind for a bit,” Xiao Yan replied with a smile, noting the joy on Doma’s face. Although the fat man’s anxiety stemmed from Xiao Yan’s strength, at least compared to some people in the Black-Corner Region, he was still relatively normal.
“Carried away by the wind? Mr. Yao Yan is truly lucky. If it were someone less fortunate, they would have been lost in the great plains,” Doma chuckled with relief. “Mr. Yao Yan, please get into the carriage. I’ll sort out the scattered goods, and then we can continue our journey.”
Nodding, Xiao Yan watched the caravan as they began to organize. He said no more and climbed back into the carriage, sitting cross-legged and letting out a long sigh. His lowered eyes still held a trace of shock, and he muttered, “Is that the power of the ‘Soul Hall’? Truly terrifying.”
“Hmm… But it’s not entirely as you see. As I said before, the ‘Soul Hall’ has special methods to deal with soul bodies, and they cannot use Dou Qi. However, some souls with strange flames, like my Bone Spirit Cold Flame, are a bit better off. When I encountered the ‘Soul Hall’ before, I managed to escape thanks to my flame. Otherwise, I would have ended up like the guy you saw…”
The Pharmacist Elder’s voice slowly filled the air.
“The way they attack… It seems to be… beyond the realm of Dou Techniques and Dou Qi?” Xiao Yan hesitated, recalling the eerie black chains. He knew that while soul bodies could not use Dou Qi, they were also less susceptible to its damage. Yet, when those chains wrapped around the red spirit, the reaction was as intense as ice meeting fire.
“Yes, I had a similar feeling when I encountered them. Though I didn’t have the chance to investigate further. Their method of attack does seem different from the norm. I think this is why soul bodies have little resistance in their hands.”
“But don’t worry about it now. As long as I stay hidden, they won’t find us soon. Focus on increasing your strength. Otherwise, the fate of that person will be a warning,” the Pharmacist Elder said solemnly.
“Okay.” After this encounter with the black storm, Xiao Yan felt a stronger sense of urgency. The strange attack method of those men also made him wary. After all, the unknown is always the most terrifying.
“However, we might stay in ‘Black Seal City’ for a day. The auction there should have what you need, and the auctions in the Black-Corner Region are unlike those in the Jia Ma Empire. You can broaden your horizons. Do you have enough money? In the Black-Corner Region, without money, you can barely move an inch.”
“I think I have about one hundred thousand gold coins. It’s the profit from selling healing medicines in Wu Tan City…”
“One hundred thousand… Barely enough to survive in the Black-Corner Region. But if you want to buy anything, forget it,” the Pharmacist Elder said helplessly.
Embarrassed, Xiao Yan rubbed his head and said, “If it’s really necessary, I can refine some medicinal herbs into pills and sell them. I’ve never heard of an alchemist lacking money…”
“You could also auction some of the Companion Purple Crystal Source or the Earthfire Lotus Seeds. These items would cause quite a stir in the Black-Corner Region. Countless fire-attribute cultivators would fight for them…”
“How can I? The Companion Purple Crystal Source is the favorite food of the Swallowing Sky Serpent. If it’s gone, what if the little one doesn’t listen? And there are only eleven Earthfire Lotus Seeds. I ate one myself, and I still don’t have enough. Sell them?”
“Let’s stick to refining pills. I can make fourth-grade pills, and I doubt there are many fourth-grade alchemists in the Black-Corner Region,” Xiao Yan huffed.
“Fourth-grade alchemist? With your status, any faction would welcome you as a distinguished guest, and the treatment would be no less than that of a Dou King,” the Pharmacist Elder scoffed.
“Hehe, that’s good.” Xiao Yan snickered. Hearing footsteps outside the carriage, he stopped talking to the Pharmacist Elder and closed his eyes, meditating like a monk.
After the black storm, Doma’s caravan did not encounter any more trouble. By the next noon, the edges of the vast black plain began to show patches of green. Experienced guards breathed a sigh of relief, knowing that once they left the plain, they would be much safer. Most cities were controlled by powerful factions, and as long as they paid enough, they wouldn’t suffer the tragic fate of losing their goods and lives.
Of course, nothing was absolute. Otherwise, the Black-Corner Region would not live up to its reputation as the most chaotic place.
In the carriage, Xiao Yan lifted the curtain and watched the caravan leave the black plain, letting out a slight sigh of relief.
“Hehe, this time, we were lucky. No ruthless black bandits, and we managed to keep our goods. No casualties mean we save a lot on compensation,” Doma’s chubby face broke into a relieved smile. Transporting goods in the Black-Corner Plain was almost like putting one’s life on the line. One stroke of bad luck could be fatal, and making a living here was hard.
“Mr. Yao Yan, here’s your payment. It’s not much compared to your rank, but…” Doma handed over a bag of gold coins, smiling wryly.
“Without Mr. Doma’s guidance, I’d probably still be wandering the Black-Corner Plain after ten days. This is enough,” Xiao Yan took the coins and weighed them. They amounted to about five thousand gold coins.
“Thank you, Mr. Yao Yan,” Doma nodded gratefully and handed over a detailed map. “For newcomers, this is the most valuable thing.”
Xiao Yan’s eyes narrowed, and he nodded without declining.
“Hehe, Mr. Yao Yan, you’re not very old, yet your strength is impressive. Your cultivation talent must be extraordinary. But in the Black-Corner Region, always be cautious. Don’t let anyone easily guess that you’re a newcomer; otherwise, it will attract unnecessary trouble.”
“Thank you for the advice.”
After leaving the black plain, the caravan slowed down. After another two hours of travel, they finally reached a large city made of black stone. The city gates were swarming with people, like ants, streaming into the gaping dark maw of the city.
“Hehe, Mr. Yao Yan, this is Black Seal City. The upcoming auction attracts many powerful forces and individuals. Every year, there are rare treasures. Last year’s auction featured a low-rank earth-level Dou Technique, and the various factions nearly fought over it. Luckily, the organizers had a strong background, or it would have turned into a fiasco.”
Standing on the carriage, Doma pointed at the city and explained to Xiao Yan.
“Earth-level Dou Technique…” Xiao Yan’s mouth twitched. Indeed, the Black-Corner Region was a place where rare treasures flowed. Such techniques were nearly impossible to find in the Jia Ma Empire.
“Let’s go,” Doma waved, and the caravan rumbled down the road, leaving a trail of dust as they headed for the city.
“Hopefully, it won’t disappoint…” Watching the city grow larger in the distance, Xiao Yan murmured, a mix of curiosity and anticipation in his heart.
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