Northwest Continent, Xuanhuang Fortress

The Northwest Continent was one of the most desolate and remote regions on the entire Dou Qi Continent. If not for the extreme north being far too frigid, with all life extinguished, even the words "one of" could have been omitted. For this reason, this land had always been known as the Lost Continent. Powerful figures with even a little fame in other regions never paid much attention to it. First, it was beyond their reach; second, there was little to be gained from this land.

After more than a decade of tireless struggle, the Yan Alliance had become the second-ranked superpower of the Northwest Continent. The Northwest Continent's long-established number one faction—the Heavenly Snake Mansion—was unwilling to be outdone. Three years ago, it had gathered the strength of the entire mansion to nurture a Half-Saint expert! For a time, the Heavenly Snake Mansion's momentum was unrivaled, and with the might of that Half-Saint expert, it completely suppressed the Yan Alliance.

Just as these two superpowers stood at daggers drawn, seemingly on the verge of all-out war, a faction called the Lion Nether Sect suddenly rose to prominence a year ago, shattering the balance of the entire continent. Although the Lion Nether Sect had been quite formidable before its rise, barely ranking among the top ten factions in the Northwest Continent, it was still far inferior to the Alliance and the Mansion.

However, the Lion Nether Sect had received assistance from numerous mysterious experts of terrifying strength. With their support, the Lion Nether Sect slaughtered one hundred and forty-seven nations and destroyed seventy-one sects, expanding its territory by more than tenfold. Its overwhelming strength and vicious methods forced the Northwest Continent, once divided by countless factions and rival powers, to unite. The Yan Alliance and the Heavenly Snake Mansion also set aside their past grievances and worked together to contain the Lion Nether Sect's expansion.

Over the past few months, the Lion Nether Sect's territory had not only failed to expand, but showed faint signs of shrinking. Yet the good times did not last. Half a month ago, more than fifty experts launched a surprise attack on the Heavenly Snake Mansion's headquarters. The defenders of the Heavenly Snake Mansion used their Half-Saint expert as the core of their formation and repelled the enemy, killing more than twenty Dou Zun experts within the formation. But in the end, the grand formation was shattered by an exceptionally powerful expert. The Heavenly Snake Mansion's headquarters fell, leaving countless dead and wounded.

After that battle, the various sects of the Northwest Continent could no longer restrain the Lion Nether Sect's expansion through their own strength. The Heavenly Snake Mansion's headquarters had also been transformed into a massive black hall. Even gazing at that enormous hall from afar caused physical discomfort because of its bizarre and unsettling design.

Within Xuanhuang Fortress, less than a hundred miles from the Heavenly Snake Mansion's headquarters, the remnants of the Heavenly Snake Mansion and all the core members of the Yan Alliance were holding a frantic meeting. Xuanhuang Fortress stood along the Northwest Continent's most important route—the Xuanhuang Sky Gorge—and was the alliance's most vital strategic stronghold. If Xuanhuang Fortress were also taken by the Lion Nether Sect, it could advance along a single front and sweep across the entire Northwest Continent, defeating every sect one by one. If it retreated, it could freely deploy troops from every stronghold and build an impenetrable defensive network.

Therefore, Xuanhuang Fortress absolutely could not be lost!

"Master Liu Chang, how many Dou Zun experts have you recruited to face the enemy in recent days?" An incomparably alluring beauty clad in crimson armor asked directly. She sat calmly in the second seat of the conference hall, yet no one dared question her position. Everyone qualified to attend knew full well that if not for this beauty's decisive ruthlessness and exceptional strength, the Yan Alliance would never have been qualified to stand alongside the Heavenly Snake Mansion today.

"In recent days, all alchemists of the fifth tier and above under the Pill Hall's jurisdiction have been refining pills without rest, hoping to recruit a sufficient number of Dou Zun experts." An elderly man in gray robes seated not far to Medusa's left spoke with a grave expression. "Thus far, we have only recruited six Four-Star Dou Zun experts and two Six-Star Dou Zun experts. No one is willing to take on such dangerous work."

"You actually managed to recruit six Dou Zun experts?" A white-haired elder seated in the first seat asked. He casually poured himself a cup of clear tea, yet that simple motion caused a strange ripple to spread through the space around him. Simply sensing such ripples required at least the cultivation of a Six-Star Dou Zun, while only experts who had stepped into the Saint Stage could create such disturbances!

"Yes. With a great enemy before us, the addition of these Dou Zun experts can at least offer us some peace of mind." There was also a trace of pride in Medusa's voice. The Pill Hall had always been an unstable element within the Yan Alliance, but in the face of this great enemy, it had become obedient as never before. It seemed they understood that if they tried any more tricks, their fate would be exceptionally miserable.

"Mm, but this will probably only give us some peace of mind." The white-haired elder nodded gravely. "Even I could only barely escape alive from that Half-Saint expert with the bizarre movement technique. Now, we can only hope that your legendary genius alliance leader finds sufficiently powerful reinforcements."

"The title of genius may be too flattering, but I was fortunate enough to find two fairly capable reinforcements." A thin man dressed in black flashed into the conference hall. An elderly white-haired man in tattered clothes and a graceful woman in plain white garments followed close behind him. "Elder, how should I address you?"

"Xiao Yan!"

The moment the man in black appeared, a commotion broke out. The members of the Yan Alliance excitedly called out his name. Even Medusa, who had always been as hard as iron, had tears glimmering in her eyes.

"Haha, young friend, you may call me Feng Lin from now on. Feng represents the attribute of my Dou Qi, while Lin signifies that I am a member of the Heavenly Snake Mansion." Seeing the strange ripples around the two people, the white-haired elder knew that both of them were far stronger than he was. For the first time since entering the conference hall, he revealed a smile. "Our Heavenly Snake Mansion will be relying on the two reinforcements you brought to reclaim what is ours."

"I am Xiao Yan's headmaster, Mang Tianchi." Mang Tianchi did not stand on ceremony as he spoke. "Leave the matter of recovering the lost territory to me. There has never been a headmaster who would not seek justice for his student."

"Mm... I am Xiao Yan's friend. Elder Feng Lin, please do not worry. The two of us will definitely help you reclaim the Heavenly Snake Mansion." Yao Ling hesitated for a moment before introducing herself. She had heard a little about Xiao Yan and Medusa, and she understood all too well that the purpose and status of her visit were indeed extremely awkward.

"Hehe, young friend Xiao Yan truly has extensive connections. To think he could befriend and invite two experts of such remarkable strength." Feng Lin smiled. "You arrived at just the right time. Had you been a few days later, Xuanhuang Fortress would likely have fallen as well. At that point, the entire Northwest Continent would have been plunged into misery and devastation."

"Are the Soul Hall's actions truly that vicious?" Yao Ling could not help asking. Among the Ancient Eight Clans, the Hun Clan was the most mysterious of the Ancient Races. Though powerful, it had always been rather polite in its dealings with other clans, and its reputation among the Eight Clans was not bad. That was why the intelligence gathered over the past few days had left her utterly stunned.

"Yes..." Before Feng Lin could finish, a deep roar rang throughout the entire fortress, interrupting him.

"Surrender, and you may yet live. Otherwise, no mercy will be shown—your souls will never be reborn!"