This was an extremely dense forest. Despite occasional beams of light piercing through the gaps in the leaves, they failed to dispel the darkness that shrouded the woods. Walking through such a territory could only intensify one’s sense of suffocation and unease.
Amid the tranquil silence, sudden, urgent footsteps broke the quiet. Soon, a large group of black, shadowy figures appeared at the edge of the forest. Moving with remarkable stealth, they clearly were seasoned veterans, their eyes warily scanning the dark nooks around them. In this perilous Black-Corner Region, everyone, regardless of their identity, kept their guard up, for mishaps lurked at every turn. Caution was the key to survival here, where disaster was never far away. Those who wished to live long understood the importance of vigilance.
*Snap!*
As the group progressed, a dry branch snapped beneath the foot of one of the members. The leader, cloaked in black, cast a sharp, disapproving look at his comrade. Just as he was about to signal for the group to continue, he detected subtle rustling among the leaves. His expression shifted sharply, and he barked, “Be alert!”
*Whizz! Whizz!*
Hardly had his words faded when arrows rained down from the darkness, scattering their formation into chaos. After the barrage of arrows, figures draped in black cloaks emerged like bolts of lightning, blades raised, and without a word, unleashed a chilling aura of death.
“Stay alert, prepare for battle!”
Upon seeing the enemy move silently and exuding a brutal stench, the leader’s heart sank. This trained and skilled force undoubtedly consisted of experienced individuals who had weathered many battles. As they observed the agility and speed of their adversaries, the realization dawned that these opponents were formidable.
With weapons drawn, the leader managed to ward off several assailants, but not without the cost of a gashed hand, blood dripping freely. Glancing back, he saw his once formidable squad nearly decimated within moments, shock evident in his eyes. Gritting his teeth, he growled, “Do you dare challenge ‘Black Coalition?’ Are you seeking your own demise?”
The response was a flurry of steel blades gleaming with fresh blood.
Rolling clumsily on the ground, the lead figure stomped and launched himself out of the forest with astonishing speed, leaving even his swift pursuers behind. Yet, just as he was about to escape, a chilling sound pierced his ears, followed by a crushing blow from behind. A fierce burst of energy slammed him ruthlessly into the earth.
*Thud!*
Sputtering a gush of blood, the man turned painfully to see a fully cloaked, enigmatic figure looming over him.
“Black Coalition won’t let this go,” he spat venomously, blood trickling from his lips.
“I’ve already killed hundreds from the ‘Black Coalition,’” the voice answered, thick with a sinister, bloody tone. The cloak concealed most of the figure, but as he spoke, a gentle tap of his boot sent a surge of power crashing into the injured man, delivering the final blow.
Kicking the lifeless body aside, another shadowy figure darted forward, quickly rummaging through the dead man’s pockets. Finding a letter, he reverently handed it to the ominous, bloodstained figure.
Casually tearing open the letter, the cloaked individual skimmed through its contents, a chilling laugh escaping his lips. “I never imagined the ‘Fierce Lion Gang’ would join forces with ‘Black Coalition.’ Their influence must have grown.”
“The ‘Gonnan Academy’ has been relentless in hunting those responsible for the previous ambush. Han Feng, to resist the ‘Gonnan Academy,’ formed the ‘Black Coalition.’ Now, even the ‘Gonnan Academy’ is powerless against them. Han Feng seems intent on spreading the ‘Black Coalition’ across the entire Black-Corner Region. Head, if we keep disrupting their plans, they will soon track us down. We should relocate again.”
A shadowy figure, his voice slightly hoarse, conveyed this information.
The blood-drenched, cloaked figure nodded. Waving his hand, he led his group out of the forest. Behind him, the hundred-strong entourage silently followed, their steps harmonized as if a single entity.
Emerging into the muted sunlight, the cloaked leader lifted his face to reveal a young, ruthless visage: Xiao Yan’s brother, Xiao Li.
Xiao Li, his frame radiating an intense, violent aura, exuded the strength of a Dou Wang. In just two years, he had ascended from a mere Great Dou Shi to a Dou Wang. However, a strange, almost deathly aura lingered around his brows, an unsettling detail that might be linked to his rapid rise in power.
“You may return,” he said flatly. The hundred shadows respectfully nodded and receded into the darkness, vanishing without a trace.
Once the others had left, the grim expression on Xiao Li’s face softened. Glancing towards the distant north, he thought of Xiao Yan, who remained at the Gonnan Academy. The memory of his cheerful younger brother caused a pang in Xiao Li’s chest. Before he came to the Black-Corner Region, his elder brother, Xiao Ding, had made it clear—Xiao Ding could die, but Xiao Yan was their hope, the key to saving the Xiao Clan. Determined, Xiao Li vowed, “Younger Brother, rest assured. I, your Second Brother, won’t rest until I avenge you. I will annihilate all who harmed you.”
His menacing laughter echoed, and then he too, disappeared like a wraith.
In the scorching magma world, two silhouettes erupted from the depths, with one pursuing the other. The pursuer, a seductive yet wrathful beauty, flung deadly, seven-colored energy blades with lethal intent.
“Stop it! I am sparing you only because you are a woman. If you persist, don’t blame me for turning hostile!” shouted the pursued, a young man in a black cloak, evading the attacks.
Undeterred, the beauty continued, her cold, hateful eyes fixed on her target. “I have sworn, once I regain my full strength, I will tear you to pieces!”
“My dear, I was not in control. Spare me, and we can pretend nothing happened,” pleaded Xiao Yan, his face etched with pain.
“Dream on!” snarled the Medusa Queen, unleashing a torrent of seven-colored energy.
“Medusa, do not push me further. If you do, do not blame me for lacking mercy!” Xiao Yan’s eyes blazed, and a jade-green flame materialized in his palm. As the green fire appeared, the magma world roiled, waves pausing obediently at his feet as if he rode them.
Witnessing this, the Medusa Queen’s composure faltered. She knew this man had harnessed the Fallen Heart Flame, and battling him here, even at her full strength, was dangerous. Her inability to strike a deadly blow was partly due to the lingering bond from the Swallowing Heavenly Python, preventing her from killing him despite her fierce determination.
Seeing the Medusa Queen finally calm, Xiao Yan sighed in relief, a bitter smile on his face. *Damn, how did I end up in this tangled situation with a beautiful snake?*
“Let’s stop this fighting. You wouldn’t want to be stuck here forever, right?” he suggested, gesturing upward. “Alone, breaking the seal would be difficult, but together, it would be easier. What do you say?”
After a moment’s pause, the Medusa Queen agreed, though she silently resolved to make him pay dearly for his intrusion as soon as they left.
Tai Sui Yellow Amulet Paper FuLu Taoist Love Talisman Traditional Chinese Spiritual Charm Attracting Love Protecting Marriage