Mysterious Faction

Biodata

Feature	Value
Name	Mysterious Faction (神秘势力)
Alias(es)	Mysterious Minor Faction; hidden faction; black-robed faction
Affiliation	Initially cooperated with the Human Race; later emerged as a hostile coalition opposing Human Race unification
Occupation/Role	Secretive faction, military force, and conspiratorial opponent
Status	Active; suffered a major defeat, but remnants escaped and its leaders continued acting 316 324
First Appearance	Chapter 59, as the “Mysterious Minor Faction” 59

Background / History

A group described as the Mysterious Minor Faction was initially associated with the Human Race. Its members shared battlefield concerns with Hu Shu, sent intelligence about threats from the Chan Sect and Witch Tribe, and later supplied cultivation resources and experts for Human Race training. 59 60 62

Lin Yu’s investigation later identified a secluded, powerful faction hidden deep in the Great Desolation. Its members wore unusual attire, possessed powerful auras, and were believed connected to an unidentified expert who had rescued Hu Shu’s group from Primordial Beasts. The faction rarely interacted with outsiders. 95

The faction formally entered a cooperation agreement with Hu Shu’s Human Race. It offered unique cultivation resources, techniques, experts, and covert support; both sides also planned a teleportation array linking their bases for emergency reinforcement. 98 100

During the conflicts around Shouyang Mountain, Mysterious Faction experts fought beside Hu Shu against the Demonic Path Expert and hostile minor factions. Their personnel used offensive spells, barriers, healing methods, elemental techniques, and magic treasures. 122 123 124

By the ZhaoGe era, a faction using the same designation became a direct enemy of the Human Race. Its black-robed agents stole Spirit Items and workers, burned military supplies, ambushed investigators, and sought to obstruct Hu Shu’s expansion of the Invincible Domain. 182 187

Interrogated captives eventually disclosed that this hostile Mysterious Faction was a joint force of Western Sect remnants and ancient Demon Race factions. Their stated aim was to keep the Human Race divided, weaken its rise, and preserve their own influence in the Great Desolation. 317

Composition and Objectives

• The faction fields black-robed cultivators, spellcasters, formation specialists, demonic beasts, guardian beasts, and armed patrols. 187 291 301 313
• Its hostile branch is supported by Western Sect remnants and ancient Demon Race factions. 317
• It seeks to prevent the Human Race from unifying and developing into a stronger force. 288 291 317
• It attempts to create internal conflict among Human Race tribes and exploit fear of its power to encourage compromise. 288 289 317
• Its hidden lair lies in a treacherous valley protected by traps, restrictions, and strict defenses; it is described as a black castle shrouded in black mist. 317 320

Appearance

Members have no single confirmed uniform across all appearances, but the hostile force is repeatedly identified through black robes and concealed faces.

• Black jackets or black robes, often with faces covered by black cloth. 182 295
• Black-robed operatives move covertly and use sharp blades in ambushes. 187
• Earlier observed members wore strange attire, were tall, stern-faced, and carried powerful auras. 95
• Senior figures include a black-robed elder wielding a Black Staff set with a mysterious gem. 299

Abilities & Skills

Spells and Supernatural Abilities

The faction deploys experts proficient in offensive, defensive, and support-oriented supernatural techniques.

• Allied-era experts used offensive spells, defensive barriers, and special healing methods alongside Human Warriors. 100
• Members have demonstrated fire manipulation, ice-shard attacks, giant shields, and defensive magical light. 123 124
• Hostile combatants use powerful sword qi, black light attacks, lightning, wind, and large-scale spell barrages. 295 299 309
• Their forces can coordinate spells with demonic beasts and guardian creatures. 291 301 322

Formations and Runes

Formations are a central part of the faction’s strategy, serving as both weapons and defensive infrastructure.

• Secret chambers and strongholds contain dense, pulsating runes that Hu Shu and Yang Jian could not immediately decipher. 184 185
• The faction trapped Hu Shu’s pursuing force in a rune-filled formation that launched fire, ice, and lightning attacks while enemy experts assaulted from outside. 299
• A special magic treasure hidden at the formation core powered the trap; it was guarded beneath an ancient stone tower by demonic beasts and experts. 300 301
• The faction’s Ancient Forbidden Technique depended on a formation beneath its black-robed casters. 311

Ancient Forbidden Technique

During its assault on a Human Race stronghold, the faction activated an Ancient Forbidden Technique through black-robed ritualists and a glowing formation.

• The technique created a massive black light pillar and heavily damaged Human Race defenses. 311
• Hu Shu’s Invincible Domain could delay its effects but could not easily withstand it indefinitely. 311
• Wu Zetian and Jie Sect experts damaged the formation’s weak point, temporarily disrupting the technique. 311
• The technique required an external energy source, which a Human Race–Jie Sect assault squad later destroyed. 312 313 315

Covert Operations

The faction relies extensively on sabotage, ambushes, infiltration, and misinformation.

• Agents stole Spirit Items and workers intended for the Invincible Domain project, then set fire to a barracks to steal weapons and provisions. 182
• It ambushed Spirit Item collectors, attacked ZhaoGe’s defense-material warehouse, and targeted Yang Jian and Nezha in the mountain forest. 187
• Its camp employed hidden mechanisms, patrols, traps, warning devices, poison bees, and arrow ambushes. 306 320
• It used provocateurs and pressure against Human Race tribes to undermine unification. 288 289

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Black Banner — Used to manipulate dark clouds, summon black lightning, or raise destructive winds. 295 309
• Glow Long Sword — Rune-inscribed sword wielded by faction experts to release crescent-shaped sword qi. 295
• Black Staff — Weapon of the Black Robe Elder; its gem emitted strange light and projected destructive black beams. 299
• Formation-core magic treasure — Special item whose aura matched the faction’s formation and which was believed to be essential to breaking it. 300 301
• Rune-marked magic treasures and cloth fragments — Battlefield evidence bearing traces associated with both Western Sect and Demon Race power. 291

Relationships

• Hu Shu — Initially negotiated cooperation and coordinated joint defense with the faction; later became its principal adversary in ZhaoGe. 98 122 182 316
• Human Race — Received resources, training, and battlefield aid from the earlier Mysterious Minor Faction, but later faced the hostile faction’s campaign to prevent Human Race unification. 62 100 288 317
• Wu Zetian — Helped investigate the faction’s identity, organized resistance, and led efforts to dismantle its forbidden technique. 291 306 311
• Jie Sect — Fought beside the Human Race against the hostile faction and supplied experts for defensive formations and assault operations. 295 309 316
• Western Sect remnants — Identified by captives as supporters and constituents of the hostile coalition. 291 317
• Ancient Demon Race factions — Identified by captives as coalition members fearful of a powerful, unified Human Race. 291 317
• Chan Sect — Suspected of connections to black-robed saboteurs; the evidence available to Hu Shu was initially inconclusive. 182

Story Role / Major Arcs

Early Alliance with the Human Race

• A Mysterious Minor Faction representative provides intelligence on enemy plans against the Human Race. 60
• The faction sends resources and experts to train Human Race forces. 62
• Hu Shu reaches a formal cooperation agreement with the faction, including plans for a teleportation array between their bases. 98
• Its reinforcements and experts assist in major battles around Shouyang Mountain. 100 122 123

ZhaoGe Sabotage and Investigation

• Black-robed agents interfere with Hu Shu’s Invincible Domain expansion by stealing materials and workers. 182
• Hu Shu and Yang Jian locate a rune-filled secret chamber in a forest northwest of ZhaoGe. 184
• Yang Jian and Nezha repeatedly clash with faction operatives while investigating the runes and pursuing the Spirit Essence Pearl. 185 187 195
• Evidence recovered from a battlefield suggests links to Western Sect and Demon Race forces, though the faction’s identity remains uncertain at that time. 291

War Against Human Unification

• The faction openly threatens ZhaoGe and demands that the Human Race halt unification. 288
• It attacks alongside demonic beasts and black-robed cultivators, prompting Human Race and Jie Sect countermeasures. 291 292
• It launches a large-scale assault using magic treasures, black banners, and continuous reinforcements. 295 309
• Its retreat is revealed as a trap when it confines pursuing forces inside a powerful formation. 299

Forbidden Technique and Defeat

• The faction deploys an Ancient Forbidden Technique powered by a formation and a rear energy source. 311 312
• A Human Race–Jie Sect squad infiltrates the rear and destroys the energy source after disrupting the guardians’ spellcasting rhythm. 313 315
• Deprived of its forbidden technique, the faction is driven into disorder and retreats under Hu Shu’s counterattack. 316
• Captives reveal its coalition structure, hidden lair, and broader plan to incite chaos among Human Race tribes. 317
• Despite the setback, faction leaders later attempt another forbidden spell amid the Tribulation of Buddha and Demons. 324

Trivia

• The faction’s name is used for both an early Human Race ally and a later hostile force; the supplied material does not explicitly explain the relationship between these appearances. 98 182
• The faction’s identity was initially inferred from magic treasures, rune patterns, residual auras, and captured operatives rather than confirmed evidence. 291 317
• Its hostile operations combine conventional military assaults with sabotage, formations, demonic beasts, and psychological pressure against Human Race tribes. 288 291 299 322