Black Horn Region

The Black Horn Region was a chaotic place, the most disorderly territory on the Northwest Continent.

The Black Horn Region covered an immense area, practically forming a clearly defined small country. The only difference between it and other empires was that those empires had a supreme ruler.

This region, however, was every faction for itself. Various forces endlessly fought and slaughtered one another for their own interests, leaving the place as chaotic as a scattered heap of sand. Yet it was precisely because of this—

That the continent's foremost academy, Jia Nan Academy, had been established here. Many people across the continent wondered why Jia Nan Academy had chosen to settle in such a chaotic place.

Only a very small number of people likely knew the answer.

Although the Black Horn Region's chaos was famous throughout the continent, the high-level Cultivation Methods, Battle Skills, medicinal pills, and other rare treasures flowing through it attracted many experts from across the land.

After all, no matter what, these things were necessities that even they coveted. Obtaining a Cultivation Method of a higher grade than the one they practiced could allow them to advance another step on the path to becoming strong. Such temptation was undoubtedly fatal to those experts.

Thus, the Black Horn Region was like a dark, bottomless abyss. Countless rare treasures flowed here through various channels before being auctioned at astronomical prices, prompting countless people to fight over them.

In the Jia Ma Empire, Earth Rank Cultivation Methods and Earth Rank Battle Skills were controlled by only a handful of people. Yet in the Black Horn Region, you might encounter a Dou Ling practicing an Earth Rank Cultivation Method and using an Earth Rank Battle Skill!

After Xiao Li and Old Wang flew for several days, they saw a pitch-black plain at the edge of their vision, like a black line that completely separated the world outside from the world within.

"Li'er, this is the Black Domain Plain. The Black Domain Plain is the gateway to the Black Horn Region. Once you step inside, you will enter that chaotic world utterly at odds with the outside."

Old Wang stroked his beard as he spoke. He had come to the Black Horn Region several times, and there were indeed many good things here. Many of his medicinal ingredients had been obtained in this place.

"We're finally here. Teacher, where are we going next?" Xiao Li took out a jug of water from his Storage Ring and drank a mouthful.

"Rest for a while first, then we'll go take a look at Xuan Ye City. The Auction House in Xuan Ye City has quite a few good things, of course, provided the Xuan Ye Sect is still around," Old Wang said calmly.

Xiao Li asked in confusion, "Xuan Ye Sect? What is that?"

Old Wang said, "The Xuan Ye Sect was already here when this old man came to the Black Horn Region ten years ago. They run an Auction House business, much like the Mittel Family.

The Sect Leader of the Xuan Ye Sect, Ye Xuan, is a Dou Emperor Expert and also an expert on the Black List. Back then, he had only just entered the Dou Emperor realm. By now, he should be around three or four stars.

In any case, they have plenty of good goods there. The Purple Gold Profound Yuan Ginseng, the main ingredient of the Profound Yuan Foundation Establishment Pill you took before, was acquired by this old man there."

Xiao Li smiled. "Oh? There's something that good? Heh, I hope we get lucky this time."

"Don't think too much, kid. The Xuanye Auction House holds an auction once every two years, and every one of them has good items. When this old man came last time, the final auction item was an Earth Grade Intermediate Dou Technique.

Whether the Auction House will even be open when we arrive this time is still unknown. Let's try our luck. First, we'll go take a look at the medicinal ingredients in Xuan Ye City."

Old Wang led Xiao Li into the Black Horn Region. Old Wang had been here several times and was quite familiar with the place.

"Li'er, put this black robe on. In the Black Horn Region, robbing those who rob others is perfectly normal. The people here hold grudges fiercely, so it's better to conceal yourself."

Old Wang tossed Xiao Li a black robe. As expected of an old hand; he had thought everything through.

The old man and the young man put on their black robes and headed deeper into the Black Horn Region.

"Our luck is good. We didn't run into a Black Storm this time. But our luck is also bad. Without a Black Storm, there are Black Bandits instead. They've already arrived."

The Black Storm Old Wang spoke of was a unique geographical phenomenon of the Black Horn Region. When merchant caravans encountered a Black Storm of moderate size, they generally considered themselves extremely fortunate.

Because Black Storms reduced the number of times Black Bandits would strike.

Xiao Li's gaze turned cold. Dou Qi Materialization formed a purple longsword in his right hand.

"Yah yah yah! This mountain was opened by me, this tree was planted by me! If you want to pass through here, leave behind your toll money!"

A dark-skinned figure led dozens of people as they surrounded Xiao Li in grand fashion.

The dark-skinned figure at the front held two broad axes. With his fierce, menacing appearance, he was clearly an old-fashioned bandit.

Xiao Li froze. The black fellow leading them was only a Dou Master, while the rest were all Dou Zhes. Some were even still at the Dou Qi stage. And they were trying to rob him?

A Dou Master robbing a Dou Emperor? Were they kidding?

"Teacher, why don't you form Dou Qi Wings? I can't be bothered to make a move." Xiao Li lowered his voice. "Huh? Where did he go?"

Old Wang had already flown elsewhere and was watching from a distance to see what Xiao Li would do.

Seeing blood was a required lesson for becoming strong. Xiao Li had killed plenty of Magical Beasts, but he had little experience killing people.

"Kid, leave behind five hundred gold coins, and Black Grandpa will let you pass! Wahahaha!" The black fellow at the front laughed loudly, resting his broad axes on his shoulders with an air of complete arrogance.

"Heh, a Dou Master robbing a Dou Ling? You really are hilarious. Fiery Cloud Palm!"

Xiao Li formed a palm with his left hand and sent out a ball of purple flame, instantly swallowing more than a dozen people. They immediately fell to the ground.

"Damn! We've kicked an iron plate! Boys, kill him!" The black fellow at the front charged forward with his broad axes.

Screech—

The black fellow fell, his eyes still wide open.

"Black Boss has been killed! Run!" One Black Bandit saw his leader die and immediately fled. The other Black Bandits scattered in all directions as well.

"That's it?"

"Kid, you've provoked our Hero Gang! You'll suffer retribution! Our Hero Gang's leader is a Dou Ling Expert! Just wait for death!"

Someone just had to add that unnecessary line.

Xiao Li: #!#

"Nine Tribulations Heavenly Flame Hand!"

A huge purple flame hand slammed toward the Black Bandit who had spoken, crushing him to death. He truly died from talking too much.

"Mm, not bad. Let's go!" Old Wang returned to Xiao Li's side and said with a smile as he stroked his beard.

Xiao Li was speechless. His teacher was good in every way, except that he would unexpectedly pull something like this and catch you completely off guard!

Since Old Wang knew the way through the Black Horn Region, Xiao Li did not buy a map. He simply followed Old Wang. Their destination this time was Xuan Ye City.

They had already learned along the way that the Auction House in Xuan Ye City would be holding an auction soon. It was said that there would be good things this time!

Xiao Li was currently looking at the Black List. The Black List was the ranking of experts in the Black Horn Region. Unlike the rankings in other empires, which might change once every ten or even several decades, the Black List could change at any time.

Competition on the Black List far surpassed that of other empires.

Black List, Rank One: Old Ghost of the Earth Demon (Dou Ancestor Expert)

Black List, Rank Two: Mo Tianxing of the Black Emperor Sect (Dou Emperor Peak)

Black List, Rank Three: Old Man Ying Shan (Dou Emperor Peak)

Black List, Rank Eight: Ye Xuan of the Xuanye Sect (approximately a Four Star Dou Emperor)

Black List, Rank Ten: Emperor Yao Han Feng (cultivation suspected to be Dou Emperor, Rank 6 Alchemist; note: he is the disciple of Venerable Yao, the continent's foremost Alchemist!)

"Han Feng? Venerable Yao?" Xiao Li muttered to himself. He had not expected Han Feng to have arrived in the Black Horn Region already. Judging by the time, he would likely be brought to account in a few decades.

But after several decades, he would still only be at the Dou Emperor Peak? Trash!

Xiao Li despised traitors who betrayed their masters and ancestors most of all.