Chapter 820: Leave No One Alive
""Xiao Gate"s," Xiao Yan?"
Xie Zhen"s expression immediately changed when he heard that calm voice enter his ear. Other people might feel that this name was foreign, but he was extremely familiar with it. The founder of Xiao Gate. The young expert who was renowned throughout the "Black-Corner Region" back then!
Even though it had been two years since that time, quite a number of people within the "Black-Corner Region" still remembered this name. Moreover, the interior of their Demon Flame Valley had accommodated quite a number of experts who had nowhere to go after being chased by this black-robed, young man. Hence, he retained a deep memory in regards to this person.
"Isn"t it rumored that he left the "Black-Corner Region"? Why would he appear in this place?" Xie Zhen rubbed away the blood trace from the corner of his mouth. A storm brewed within his heart. After all, this person had even killed an expert like Han Feng who had half a foot in the Dou Zong cla.s.s back then. His return would undoubtedly bring a lot of pressure on the Demon Flame Valley.
This thought churned within Xie Zhen"s heart as an intention to withdraw gradually surfaced with it. Back then, Xiao Yan was able to kill an expert like Han Feng. Now that two years had pa.s.sed, it was likely that his strength was even more terrifying. It was likely that he would have difficulty stopping Xiao Yan by himself.
Xie Zhen"s fighting intent swiftly dispersed when this thought appeared. His dark and cold eyes swept in all directions without leaving a trace. His feet suddenly stepped on a rock behind him as his body turned into a green figure that shot toward the group of students where Xiao Yu was located.
This action of Xie Zhen immediately stirred the fear of these students from the Jia Nan Academy. With their strength, there was a gap similar to that of a little chicken and an old eagle when facing the former. There was no point in even comparing.
Xie Zhen swiftly flashed over while everyone was panicking. However, when he was about to charge into the student group, a faintly black figure flashed and appeared in a ghost-like manner a short distance away. The enormous black ruler in his hand carried a hot wind and the sharp sound of rus.h.i.+ng wind as it was hacked at the former"s head.
"This fellow… what frightening speed…"
Xie Zhen"s heart sank when he saw this black figure appear a ghost. His body suddenly twisted and he turned around. After which, he rushed toward the valley"s entrance. He sternly cried out to the people from the Demon Flame Valley while he fled, "Attack, kill all of them!"
The two expert Dou w.a.n.gs were startled when they heard Xie Zhen"s stern cry. They immediately faced each other, clenched their teeth and took out their weapons. After which, they emitted a low cry as they led the many black figures to rush angrily at Xiao Yan.
"All of you should step back."
Xiao Yan turned his head and spoke faintly to Xiao Yu and the others behind him as he watched these black-clothed people charging over.
Xiao Yu did not hesitate after hearing this. She waved her hand and made everyone hurriedly move back.
A bright-silver glow suddenly erupted under Xiao Yan"s feet after he saw Xiao Yu and the others move back. His body immediately trembled and numerous afterimages suddenly appeared in the valley. His body transformed into a blurry black line. In an instant, he appeared in front of an expert Dou w.a.n.g.
The sudden appearance of Xiao Yan caused the expression of that Dou w.a.n.g to change. However, his reaction was still quite quick. Without thinking, the sharp longsword in his hand carried a dense forceful wind as it pierced toward Xiao Yan"s throat.
"Clang!"
Xiao Yan"s eyes were indifferent as he watched this expert Dou w.a.n.g, who dared to take the initiative to attack. A cold smile was lifted on the corner of his mouth. His heavy ruler was violently swung and eventually collided with that longsword. One could only hear a clear sound as that longsword broke apart like a weak wooden twig. A majestic force poured out and finally entered the body of that expert Dou w.a.n.g.
"Grug!"
Fresh blood was wildly spat out. During this time, the clear sound of bones being broken rang out. That expert Dou w.a.n.g from the Demon Flame Valley immediately flew back before striking the mountain wall with his head. A "bang" sounded and his head burst apart like watermelon.
One strike!
In merely one strike, an expert Dou w.a.n.g ended up losing his life in this place. This shocking scene caused cold air to climb from the remaining expert Dou w.a.n.g"s feet to his head. He did not even hesitate a little. The Dou Qi wings on his back were swiftly extended as he charged into the sky. His body turned and fled.
However, the temperature around his body suddenly soared when he had just turned his body. Immediately, a wisp of jade-green flame flashed and appeared. Finally, it transformed into a fierce flame that completely wrapped around him.
"Ah!"
A fierce flame immediately burned the body of that fleeing Dou w.a.n.g in the sky. A sharp miserable scream reverberated in the valley, causing a chill to run over the bodies of those black-clothed people.
The miserable cry merely lasted for a moment before it stopped. Soon after something resembling black charcoal fell from the sky. It was still vaguely emitting a charred smell.
The black charcoal item fell in front of those dozens of black-clothed people. These elites of the Demon Flame Valley, whose hands would not even feel numb when killing people, involuntarily swallowed a mouthful of saliva at this moment. Their eyes were horrified as they stared at Xiao Yan a short distance away. They immediately looked at each other and chose to flee together without even coming to an agreement. When faced with an expert of such a level, they would only end up being nothing but a sacrifice if they charged forward.
Xiao Yan"s indifferent gaze moved over the black-clothed people who swiftly retreated. A cl.u.s.ter of invisible flame appeared in front of him, and an invisible fluctuation immediately spread out.
"Bang! Bang!"
When the invisible fluctuation spread, Xiao Yu and the others watched with stunned expressions as those black-clothed people"s bodies strangely exploded into a cl.u.s.ter of ashes. The numerous low, m.u.f.fled sounds caused gooseb.u.mps to stand erect on their bodies. This kind of mysterious and unusual killing method was something that they had never even heard of.
The repeated sounds of explosions resounded over the mountain valley, Around half a minute later, the dozens of fleeing black-clothed people turned into cl.u.s.ters of dark-black ashes on the ground…
The invisible flame in front of Xiao Yan slowly disappeared after the body of the final black-clothed person burst apart. That strange fluctuation also vanished…
Xiao Yan gently glanced at the black-colored ashes all over the ground. He patted his hands before his finger flicked the Heavy Xuan Ruler to place it inside his Storage Ring. After which, he turned his head and smiled to Wu Hao"s stunned group.
The coldness that covered Xiao Yu"s body disappeared when she saw the gentle smile on that familiar face. In an instant, the completely silent valley was once again filled with life. The young ladies who had escaped from a great disaster immediately gathered together and inquired about each other"s well-being. They also repeatedly threw their gazes in the direction of Xiao Yan. Those silvery-bell-like laughs and unusual gazes were shot over during this period of time.
Clearly, these flower-like young ladies possessed great interest for Xiao Yan. A great hero who had appeared out of nowhere and left behind many achievements within the Jia Nan Academy.
"That fellow has fled…" Wu Hao helplessly shook his head in the face of the chirping noises around him before he spoke to Xiao Yan. During the time that Xiao Yan was blocked by those people from the Demon Flame Valley, Xie Zhen had taken the opportunity of the chaos to flee from the valley.
"He cannot run away…" Xiao Yan laughed before immediately inquiring about Wu Hao"s health, "Are you alright?"
"I"m fine, with your medicinal pill, I should be able to completely recover after resting for a couple of days." Wu Hao laughed as he replied.
"Elder Wu, are all of you alright?" Three human figures rushed down from the sky. One was Zi Yan holding Mai Di and Mo Ling as she flew down from above the valley.
Wu Hao shook his head. His gaze was immediately thrown to Zi Yan as he involuntarily laughed, "It is unexpected that you have also brought her back. First Elder has frequently talked about her…"
"Chi, what is that old fellow talking about me for? He is definitely thinking of asking me to do hard labor and get me to search for medicinal ingredients all over the mountains…" Zi Yan curled her mouth and spoke after hearing this.
Wu Hao could only smile in embarra.s.sment when he heard her speak in this matter. He was naturally also aware of Zi Yan ident.i.ty. If they were to talk about seniority, Zi Yan could be considered his senior"s senior. Hence, he naturally did not dare to have much objection to Zi Yan rolling her eyes.
"Your current strength… has likely broken through to the Dou Huang cla.s.s right?" Wu Hao"s eyes swept over Xiao Yan"s body and involuntarily spoke after some brief hesitation.
The surrounding gazes were immediately thrown over when they heard Wu Hao"s words. Quite a number of people gently inhaled a cool breath of air when they saw Xiao Yan smile and nod. Dou Huang… that cla.s.s was a level they were striving for. However, this Xiao Yan, who was not much older than then, had already achieved it. This caused them to be extremely envious.
Mo Ling and a couple of good friends were gathered together. Her watery eyes would occasionally shoot to Xiao Yan, whose face was covered by a slight smile. It must be said that the current Xiao Yan possessed quite a big attraction to these young ladies. Compared to him, the most renowned people within the academy seemed to have completely paled. There was no room for comparison between the two.
A ray of light suddenly appeared in the valley while everyone was softly conversing. Finally, it appeared in the sky from nowhere. A delicate hand was tossed and a human figure fell down. Finally, that figure heavily smashed into a spot not far from everyone.
The human figure that had suddenly landed caused quite a number of people to be shocked. Their gazes glanced over only to be stunned to realize that the human figures on the ground was actually Xie Zhen who had fled earlier. However, the latter was currently completely void of life. His face contained a strange grayish-purple color. It seemed that he had died from poison…
Shocked gazes remained on Xie Zhen"s corpse on the ground for a long while. Everyone gazes were suddenly lifted. Immediately, they saw a white-clothed lady that stood in the empty sky.
The white-clothed lady moved her feet softly under the shocked gazes of everyone. She slowly walked down through the empty air and revealed a warm smile to Xiao Yan. However, the words that she spoke caused quite a number of people to s.h.i.+ver as if they were cold.
"Sorry, originally, I was planning to capture him alive. It was unexpected that this fellow had such a low resistance to poison. He died immediately from the poison attacking his heart…"
Wu Hao wiped cold sweat off his face as he looked at the pretty face of the Little Fairy Doctor, which contained a smile. His heart immediately muttered why was it that the women who followed beside this fellow were so strong? Moreover, their tactics… were also this vicious.
Xiao Yan faintly nodded. He glanced at the corpse on the ground before slightly frowning. He looked at Wu Hao"s group and asked while deep in thought.
"Just what is this Demon Flame Valley faction?"
Chapter 821: Turbulent Times
The smile on Wu Hao"s face was slowly withdrawn when he heard Xiao Yan"s question. He frowned intently, mused for a moment before saying, "This Demon Flame Valley is also an old faction within the "Black-Corner Region". It has existed for quite a long time. The strength of the valley is also unusually great. Originally, they did not have much conflict with the Jia Nan Academy. Due to "Xiao Gate," our relations.h.i.+p has become like fire and water during this one to two years."
"What"s the matter?" Xiao Yan was slightly startled. This matter was actually related to "Xiao Gate"?
"The main reason is that "Xiao Gate" is developing too quickly. It could be considered a renowned faction within the "Black-Corner Region". The expansion of a faction will naturally involve some unavoidable issues with other factions. Hence, due to some issues, "Xiao Gate" and the Demon Flame Valley have had some conflicts. With the increase in the intensity of these conflicts, a big battle is naturally unavoidable…" Wu Hao sighed helplessly. "In the beginning, this Demon Flame Valley had revealed its powerful strength as an old faction. "Xiao Gate" was repeatedly defeated in their few battles. In the end, the Jia Nan Academy finally intervened and helped "Xiao Gate" defeat the Demon Flame Valley. During the battle we killed a couple of experts from the Demon Flame Valley. It was due to this that the Demon Flame Valley and the Jia Nan Academy formed an enmity."
"This Demon Flame Valley"s tactics are extremely despicable. After bearing a grudge with the Jia Nan Academy, they quietly attacked the students from the academy who went out to train. Quite a number of students have died to their hands during these one to two years. These actions have completely angered the Jia Nan Academy. Originally, we seldom intervened unless "Xiao Gate" was in deep trouble. In the end, it basically became a big battle between the Jia Nan Academy and the Demon Flame Valley. A life and death battle will erupt the moment the experts from both sides meet." Wu Hao grit his teeth when he spoke until this point. Clearly, he felt extremely furious about the despicable means of the Demon Flame Valley.
Xiao Yan"s expression slowly turned dark and solemn as he watched Wu Hao"s furious face. Attacking the ordinary students. This kind of tactic was so unscrupulous that it made one"s hair stand. No wonder the Jia Nan Academy would be so furious. It even gave up its neutral stance and began a war with the Demon Flame Valley.
"Not long after the Jia Nan Academy and the Demon Flame Valley began a war, the latter recruited all the experts who had joined hands with Han Feng in attacking the Inner Academy back then. Their main purpose is to oppose the Jia Nan Academy… the strength of this Demon Flame Valley is quite strong. Even with the strength of the Jia Nan Academy, it is difficult to eliminate. Hence, the big battle has continued to remain in a stalemate. In this way, the academy would dispatch strong people to guard the students each time they would come out to train. However, word of this was unexpectedly leaked this time around and the other side discovered our traces. If you had not appeared in time, it is likely that the people here would not have had a good ending…" Wu Hao frowned as he continued speaking.
"If we were to compare their foundations, it is likely that the time that the Demon Flame Valley has existed is much shorter than the Jia Nan Academy right?" Xiao Yan mused as he spoke. The Jia Nan Academy might only have First Elder Su Qian as their only elite Dou Zong on the surface, but he knew that the academy definitely hid an extremely frightening strength. One example was those two hall guardians in that mysterious valley.
"Those guardians will not intervene until the academy reaches a point where its survival hovers on the brink. Not one of them has appeared even during the emergency moment when Han Feng attacked the Inner Academy…" Wu Hao bitterly laughed.
Xiao Yan could only nod his head helplessly when heard this. These old fellows might be strong, but they were all antiquated people who only knew how to abide by the rules.
"Does that Demon Flame Valley also possess an elite Dou Zong?" Xiao Yan frowned and asked. First Elder Su Qian was a genuine expert Dou Zong. If even his intervention could not finish off the Demon Flame Valley, it was likely that the other party also possessed an elite Dou Zong.
"Yes. The valley chief of the Demon Flame Valley is also an elite Dou Zong. However, he usually spends most of the time in retreat and seldom appears in the "Black-Corner Region". An ordinary person does not know much about him. A genuine expert in the "Black-Corner Region" does not have much interest in s.n.a.t.c.hing the so-called Black Ranking. Hence, you should not be a.s.sured that this thing measures the overall strength of the "Black-Corner Region". By being able to survive for such a long time around the Jia Nan Academy, it is not an exaggeration to say that this chaotic region is a place riddled with hidden dragons and tigers." Wu Hao spoke in a deep voice, "Even the strength of the Gold Silver Elders would possess a great gap when compared to these true experts."
Xiao Yan slightly nodded. From the looks of the situation now, the "Black-Corner Region" did indeed hide its roots deep. The original him was indeed as short-sighted as a mouse, actually thinking that the Gold Silver Elders were the strongest people within the "Black-Corner Region".
Of course, the current Xiao Yan was naturally not the one who possessed the strength of a Dou w.a.n.g from two years ago. The current him was a genuine expert Dou Huang. It was not as though there were no elite Dou Zongs who had been defeated in his hands. He believed that should he exchange blows with Han Feng from back then with his current strength, he would definitely not need to use Yao Lao"s strength like he had done before in order to defeat the latter.
"Looks like this "Black-Corner Region" had been going through turbulent times during my two years of absence…" Xiao Yan sighed softly after hearing Wu Hao describe the changes in the "Black-Corner Region" during these two years.
"Your return this time around… won"t be just to visit us, right?" Xiao Yu by the side glanced at the Little Fairy Doctor beside Xiao Yan as she asked a question.
Xiao Yan rubbed his nose and laughed, "I have some matters that require me to look for First Elder. Moreover, the "Fallen Heart Flame" within the Inner Academy"s "Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower" has likely been exhausted, no?"
"To think that you actually remembered this. It was exhausted half a year ago. If the First Elder had not been held back by the Demon Flame Valley, making him unable to leave, it is likely that he would have already charged to the Jia Ma Empire to capture you." Xiao Yu rolled her eyes at Xiao Yan as she replied.
Xiao Yan involuntarily felt somewhat embarra.s.sed when he heard this.
"Since you are also going to look for First Elder, why don"t you return with us to the Jia Nan Academy?" Wu Hao laughed and changed the topic.
Xiao Yan hesitated for a moment before shaking his head. He said, "The "Black-Corner Region" is holding a large scale auction. I need to go and take a look. This time, I have come to search for some information on a batch of medicinal ingredients and I might be able to obtain some news there."
"The auction in the Black Emperor City, right? I have also heard of it. Indeed it is the largest auction within the "Black-Corner Region" during these few years." Wu Hao was startled. He immediately knit his brows and said, "In that case, I shall not stop you. However, you need to be careful when you reach the Black Emperor City. That place has basically gathered over half of the experts and factions within the "Black-Corner Region". According to my information, it seems that the Demon Flame Valley will also partic.i.p.ate in it."
Xiao Yan gently nodded. He laughed, "Relax, if I really meet that Demon Flame Valley, I will coincidentally have the opportunity to see just how strong this faction, which can contend with the Jia Nan Academy, really is."
"Let"s go, I will protect all of you for a certain distance. Once that auction in the Black Emperor City is over, I will make a trip to the academy." Xiao Yan smiled as he spoke to Wu Hao and Xiao Yu.
"Alright. As long as we reach a city, we will be able to communicate with the Jia Nan Academy. We will be safe at that time." No one rejected Xiao Yan"s suggestion. Although the people from the Demon Flame Valley who had chased them had all been killed, Wu Hao was seriously injured. They would naturally be much safer with someone as strong as Xiao Yan protecting them.
Wu Hao did not continue to delay after they finished their discussion. He let out a yell and ordered everyone to quickly begin moving. After which, they swiftly left this small valley where they had lingered on the line between life and death…
With a flick of Xiao Yan"s finger, the corpse of Xie Zhen was turned into ashes on the ground. This way, the Fourth Elder from the Demon Flame Valley quietly disappeared like smoke.
They spent around two hours traveling after they left the valley before a city appeared amid some tall mountains. Xiao Yan ensured that Wu Hao"s group was settled before they separated once again. He continued to hurry to the Black Emperor City. The time when the auction would begin was quickly nearing. Hence, Xiao Yan could only pick up his pace.
Although Wu Hao was quite interested in the large scale auction in the Black Emperor City, he was naturally unable to request to follow them with so many burdens hanging around him. After all, the current Black Emperor City was extremely chaotic and filled with all sorts of people. Should any accident happen, it was likely that one would be unable to find a person in it. Therefore, he could only wait in this city for the experts from the Jia Nan Academy to rush over and eventually send these students, who had suffered a great shock, back to the academy.
Xiao Yan"s three man group had already swiftly left this city while Wu Hao was feeling depressed because of his responsibilities. They quickened their pace and flew to the location of the Black Emperor City according to the map.
After non-stop fast traveling for a day, Xiao Yan"s group gradually approached the Black Emperor City. As their distance from the Black Emperor City decreased, Xiao Yan was also somewhat astonished to discover that the human flow that was heading to the Black Emperor City had begun to increase. Clearly, these people were also headed to the Black Emperor City because of the auction.
In a place like the "Black-Corner Region", it was only natural that some conflict would erupt with the presence of more people. The Little Fairy Doctor initially felt somewhat surprised at the belligerence of the people in this place as they saw b.l.o.o.d.y battles appearing periodically. In the end, she was actually able to ignore them just like Xiao Yan and Zi Yan.
They continued traveling in this manner. It was only when evening arrived did an enormous city outline become partially visible at the edge of their sight…
That enormous city at the end of the main road finally appeared in Xiao Yan"s sight as they approached.
Xiao Yan studied the towering city wall from a distance as he stood on the top of a slope. Shock flashed across his eyes.
This Black Emperor City was indeed just as its name suggest. Its grand size did not cause that "Emperor" word to be outshone. The dark-black city wall, that extended to the horizon, contained a frigid feeling. Under the remaining sunlight, the black-colored city wall appeared just like a mirror that reflected a faint glow.