Bolei Clan

Yulan Calendar, 9991.

After traveling through the Sunset Mountain Range, Fang Yun prepared to cross the Dark Alliance and then head for the Holy Union.

As an entity comparable to the Holy Union, the Dark Alliance was undoubtedly powerful. The Holy Union was under the control of the Radiant Church, with the Fenlai Kingdom at its head. Likewise, the Dark Alliance was controlled by the Dark Church, with the Black Lion Kingdom at its head.

The Dark Church's churches could be seen everywhere throughout the kingdoms and duchies of the Dark Alliance. Believers were constantly entering and leaving them.

As one of the two most powerful churches on the Yulan Continent, the Dark Church's influence in the Dark Alliance was unparalleled. There were no churches of any other kind to be seen. Even the selection of kings for the kingdoms and duchies was influenced by the Dark Church; one could even say that it was entirely decided according to the Church's wishes.

Moreover, nearly ninety percent of the dark mages on the Yulan Continent had gathered here.

Prequet had shrunk to the size of a gecko and remained hidden as he followed Fang Yun. After all, he was too large, and even if he were only a few meters long, people could easily recognize him.

Fang Yun didn't want to attract crowds wherever he went.

Traveling alone, Fang Yun easily found a mercenary group headed for the Black Vulture Duchy in the northern part of the Dark Alliance. The Holy Union lay north of the Dark Alliance, and crossing the Black Vulture Duchy would bring one into its territory.

"Stay alert, everyone."

The mercenary group had barely left the city when its leader shouted.

There were always open stretches of land, hills, or mountains between cities. So once they were outside the city, it wasn't as safe as it had been within its walls. Bandits might block the road anywhere, or magical beasts might suddenly appear.

Fang Yun sat in a wooden flatbed wagon, crammed in with four other people.

One of them was an old man with an unkempt beard. A yellowed wine gourd hung from his waist, and his bulbous nose was red. Every so often, he took a sip of cheap liquor.

"Old Carter, can't you stop drinking that homemade stuff? It reeks. It's like swill that's gone bad."

A man who looked a little younger than the scruffy old-timer couldn't help speaking up. "I can't believe I'm stuck riding in the same wagon as you. I can already imagine what the rest of this trip will be like."

The others glanced at Old Carter, too. They didn't say anything, but their expressions were none too pleased.

The smell really was overpowering.

"Heh."

Old Carter peered at the man with cloudy eyes. "You've got no idea what's good. This is my secret-recipe Utrisu Wine. It's got a fine, pure flavor."

"If Utrisu Wine always tastes like this, then only brown pigs would drink it."

The man curled his lip as he retorted.

"..."

Watching them bicker, Fang Yun found it amusing. It wasn't just the powerful people in this world—the lives of ordinary folk were colorful in their own way, too.

Since they were sharing a wagon, it was only natural that they'd chat. It was about the only entertainment they had on the road.

Old Carter was only an ordinary man, but he knew a fair amount. Fang Yun had already heard plenty of stories about the Dark Alliance from him.

Before long, the sky grew dark.

The mercenary group was carrying quite a bit of cargo and several passengers, so it wasn't moving quickly. They wouldn't reach the next city in time, and could only find a safe place to set up camp for the night.

The ordinary passengers riding in the flatbed wagons had to find somewhere to lean back and sleep. Those in the carriages were either minor nobles or merchants. They had meals, and even prepared fine tents to sleep in.

The difference in status was obvious.

Old Carter and the others took out their variously shaped food and began to eat. Old Carter, in particular, took a bite of dry rations, then a sip of his homemade "Utrisu Wine," looking utterly content.

You'd think he was drinking some fine wine.

"Old Carter."

Suddenly, the man who had complained about Old Carter's homemade liquor came over and held out his dry rations. "Want to try some?"

Old Carter looked at him with a smile. "What, you want a drink now?"

He wasn't a fool.

"Heh-heh, it's cold out. Just a sip, come on."

The man made no mention of his earlier complaints.

"Who was it that said only brown pigs drank this?"

Old Carter teased him.

"I'm a brown pig, all right? Don't be stingy. Come on, pour me some."

The man showed no embarrassment as he held out his little bowl.

Old Carter grinned and poured some liquor into it. "Just one bowl."

"..."

They thought they were in for a peaceful night, but then something unexpected happened.

In the middle of the night, shouts and the sounds of fighting suddenly came from the distance. The commotion woke everyone.

The entire mercenary group quickly went on high alert. The ordinary people were especially frightened, particularly those who had hired mercenaries to travel for the first time.

"We've probably run into some powerful fighters battling each other."

Old Carter wasn't especially panicked. He'd seen this sort of thing plenty of times. "Don't worry. As long as they aren't bandits, it usually won't affect us."

Fights between powerful people weren't exactly common on the Yulan Continent, but they weren't rare, either.

Fang Yun noticed what was happening in the distance right away. Ordinary people might not be able to see clearly, but the darkness didn't affect him at all.

Five seventh-rank warriors and two seventh-rank dark mages were surrounding two tall, powerfully built men who were also seventh-rank.

The five warriors were engaging them at close range, while the two dark mages stood on either side, each casting spells.

Given the difference in strength, the seven could easily kill the two men. But they didn't seem to be trying to kill them. Instead, they appeared to want to capture them alive.

That was why the two men could still fight back. Even so, they had already suffered quite a few injuries. At this rate, they would eventually be captured alive.

Moreover, judging by their appearance, the seven attackers were powerful members of the Dark Church.

Most importantly, the two seventh-rank men under attack hadn't used battle qi from beginning to end. They seemed to be relying on nothing but their physical strength to contend with the seven.

Humans with seventh-rank bodies?

On the Yulan Continent, ordinary people could reach at most the sixth rank in physical strength, even with relentless training. The only ones known to surpass that were the Four Ultimate Warriors, whose bodies could exceed the sixth rank and reach the seventh, or even the eighth.

If these two had seventh-rank bodies, could they have the bloodline of one of the Four Ultimate Warrior Clans?

Such powerful bodies could withstand the descent of higher-level angels, making them extremely valuable to the Dark Church and the Radiant Church.

Klemerson, the leader of the Fallen Angels of the Dark Church in the original story, was very likely from one of the Four Ultimate Warrior Clans.

"Prequet, go rescue those two humans."

Fang Yun spoke to the gecko-like Prequet at his feet.

The Dark Church and the Radiant Church had their flaws, but that didn't mean they were entirely evil. They'd just had the bad luck to end up at odds with Linley.

Especially now that Fang Yun himself was the Radiant Sovereign. The Radiant Church belonged to him, at least in part.

Even so, Fang Yun wanted to learn more about the Four Ultimate Warriors. At the very least, they played a major role on the Yulan Continent.

"Yes, Master."

Prequet answered at once and ran off.

"They're from the Dark Church."

The mercenary leader had sent someone to scout, and the man soon returned with the news.

"The Church?"

The mercenary leader's expression turned cautious.

In the Dark Alliance, mercenaries and mages who weren't under the Church's control faced various restrictions. Naturally, they didn't want to run into Church officials.

The mercenary leader was still considering whether to travel through the night when a roar carrying dragon might suddenly rang out.

The dragon might alone was enough to change everyone's expressions.

"It's the Dragon Race!"

A mercenary cried out in panic.

Dragons were incredibly powerful beings. If they'd really run into one, a mercenary group like theirs would be walking to its death.

The mercenary group's leader looked grim, but didn't hesitate any longer. "Quick, pack up! We're leaving!"

Traveling at night was dangerous, but they couldn't stay here any longer.

"Captain, what about the supplies?"

The mercenary was flustered. He'd been on plenty of jobs, but this was his first time encountering a dragon.

"We can't worry about that now. Anything we can't carry, leave behind. Protect Earl Fran!"

The mercenary leader gritted his teeth and spoke decisively. "Move as fast as you can. Get out of here! We'll head to Feier City first!"

Mercenary missions varied, and the most important part of this one was ensuring Earl Fran's safety. As long as the earl was safe, they could abandon the rest.

Feier City was the closest city. It wasn't their destination, but they'd have to go there, even if it meant taking a detour.

"Yes!"

Hearing the captain's order, the mercenary didn't dare argue. He nodded firmly, then hurried off to make arrangements.

Soon, everyone in the camp had been notified, and the place grew a little noisy.

"We're leaving now?"

Old Carter looked reluctant, but there was nothing he could do. Without the mercenary group, he couldn't make it to the Black Vulture Duchy on his own.

"Hurry up!"

The mercenaries urged everyone on.

Under cover of the dark night, and with the sudden appearance of a dragon, the mercenary group set off with only the bare essentials.

Fang Yun, however, didn't continue with them. He was curious about the two men who were very likely descendants of an Ultimate Warrior Clan.

As a Saint-level Tyrannosaurus, Prequet easily rescued the two warriors who had been surrounded.

"You lot, get lost!"

Prequet didn't kill the Dark Church members. After all, Fang Yun hadn't told him to.

Faced with Prequet's sudden appearance, the members of the Dark Church didn't dare utter a word. They could only look at the two men resentfully, clasp their fists toward Prequet, and leave.

Prequet snorted through his nostrils, then grabbed one of the men in each claw and flew off.

Faced with Prequet, both the members of the Dark Church and the two men he'd rescued felt despair.

A Saint-level Tyrannosaurus!

Even the pope of the Dark Church didn't want to provoke a dragon like this.

In an unmarked mountain range.

Prequet casually tossed the two men onto the ground.

They'd had the courage to fight back when surrounded by seventh-rank members of the Dark Church, but facing a Saint-level dragon, they couldn't summon even the slightest desire to resist.

"Esteemed dragon..."

One of the men eyed Prequet cautiously and asked, "Thank you for saving us, my brother and me."

"Don't thank me. My master told me to save you."

Prequet's voice rumbled like thunder. He looked at the two men and said, "Wait here. Don't leave."

As he spoke, Prequet breathed out a small flame of dragonfire and lit a campfire.

Now the two men could be seen clearly. They were both bald, over two meters and thirty centimeters tall, and powerfully built. They wore sleeveless leather armor, and their bodies were covered in scars.

Master?

Hearing Prequet's words, the two brothers looked incredulous.

This was a Saint-level dragon. Its master had to be a powerful Saint-level expert, too!

Just then, Fang Yun walked over.

"Master."

Prequet shrank down.

Seeing how respectfully the Saint-level Tyrannosaurus treated Fang Yun, the two men realized that this young man was a powerful Saint-level expert. They couldn't help feeling nervous in his presence.

They hadn't expected the master of a Saint-level dragon to look so young. That meant he must have reached the Saint-level at an extremely young age.

After all, one's appearance stopped changing upon reaching the Saint-level.

"Thank you for saving my brother and me, sir."

The two men hurriedly came to their senses and bowed.

Fang Yun nodded casually and looked at them. "All right, get up. Who are you, and why did the Dark Church capture you?"

The two looked at each other. One of them answered, "Sir, we're officers in the Black Hawk Kingdom's army. My name is Dom, and this is my younger brother, Dole."

Fang Yun smiled and sat down beside the campfire. "The Bolei Clan?"

At Fang Yun's words, the brothers' expressions changed instantly, and they grew more wary.

"Don't be nervous. I mean you no harm."

Fang Yun waved a hand, putting them at ease.

On the Yulan Continent, only the bloodlines of the Four Ultimate Warriors could give someone a body capable of reaching the seventh or eighth rank through physical strength alone.

Even among the Ultimate Warrior Clans, one's bloodline had to be strong enough to reach the seventh or eighth rank physically. Otherwise, they were little different from ordinary people.

Dom looked helpless. "Our bloodlines are indeed strong enough. But we can't transform. The Tiger-striped Secret Manual of our clan was lost a thousand years ago."

The bloodlines of the Four Ultimate Warriors were peculiar. They could only cultivate battle-qi manuals suited to their own bloodlines and couldn't cultivate any others.

Once the corresponding secret manual was lost, even those with sufficiently pure bloodlines could no longer wield battle qi.

So without a battle-qi secret manual, the two brothers were basically limited to the level of seventh-tier warriors.

Fang Yun had guessed as much.

However, just because it had been lost didn't mean the Tiger-striped Secret Manual couldn't be found somewhere on the Yulan Continent. Although ordinary people couldn't cultivate the battle-qi secret manuals of the Four Ultimate Warrior Clans, they were certainly worth collecting.

Just like the Armand clan's Undying Secret Manual, which the Saber Organization had a copy of.

The Tiger-striped Secret Manual was sure to have been copied by other major powers, too.

"Follow me from now on. If I get the chance, I'll help you find the Tiger-striped Secret Manual."

Fang Yun spoke plainly.

Hearing that Fang Yun would help them find the Tiger-striped Secret Manual, the two brothers froze for a moment, then couldn't help showing their delight. "My lord, do you know where our clan's Tiger-striped Secret Manual is?"

If they could get their hands on the Tiger-striped Secret Manual, the Bolei clan would surely rise again.

"I don't."

Fang Yun answered directly.

"Uh..."

His blunt reply left the two brothers at a loss for words.

"But if we ask around among the major powers, we're bound to hear something. Bolei was once a renowned powerhouse across the continent. Someone must have made a copy of the Tiger-striped Secret Manual."

Fang Yun added.

Hearing this, the two brothers nodded instinctively.

Even if no one had made a copy, the Tiger-striped Secret Manual that their clan had lost must be in the hands of some major power.

However, they had neither the standing nor the strength to search for it. Anyone who could keep their clan's secret manual was bound to be a Saint-level powerhouse.

"My lord, are you really willing to help us find the Tiger-striped Secret Manual?"

Doham couldn't help asking again.

He had his own suspicions about why. With the Tiger-striped Secret Manual, the two of them wouldn't struggle to advance like other warriors. Reaching Saint-level would be the easiest thing in the world. That was the might of an Ultimate Warrior.

In other words, with the Tiger-striped Secret Manual, they would be two Saint-level powerhouses.

Of course, they didn't know that Fang Yun simply didn't want the Tiger-striped Warriors, one of the Four Ultimate Warriors, to fade into obscurity.

"Don't you believe me?"

Fang Yun smiled.

"Of course we believe you, my lord."

The brothers exchanged a glance, and Doham answered.

But then Doham's expression turned troubled. "However, we can't follow you, my lord..."

"Oh? What are you worried about?"

Fang Yun's expression remained unchanged.

Doham hesitated, but finally spoke. "To be honest, we had willingly agreed to follow the people from the Dark Church and go to the Holy Capital. But on the way, we accidentally learned that the Dark Church wanted us to go there so they could kill us and take over our bodies. It seems they're planning some kind of Fallen Angel descent. Fallen Angels are extremely powerful, so even though you rescued us, they won't let this go."

They knew that the Dark Church had many powerful Saint-level experts. If their situation put their savior in danger, it would be their fault.

"The Dark Church is nothing."

Prequet caught the meaning behind their words and spoke with disdain. In his eyes, Fang Yun was the strongest person on the Yulan Continent beneath the gods. If the Dark Church dared come after him, they'd be asking for death.

Even if the Radiant Church joined them, it would make no difference.

The Dark Church is nothing?

The two brothers were stunned by Prequet's words.

Fang Yun smiled. "All right, I understand what you're thinking. Don't worry. If you follow me, the Dark Church won't dare cause you trouble."

Seeing how confident Fang Yun was, the two brothers finally pushed down their unease and bowed to him. "Thank you, my lord."

Whether Fang Yun could truly protect them in the future or not, he had at least saved them now.

Even if they really did draw Saint-level experts from the Dark Church down on their lord, they could always leave with the Dark Church if it came to that. Otherwise, they'd destroy their own bodies rather than let the Dark Church get what it wanted.