Black Corner Region

A few days later, Yao Chen, Xiao Yan, and Xiao Yi Xian all donned black robes and stepped together into the mysterious and dangerous Black Corner Region.

The moment they entered, a scent mixed with blood, decay, and various exotic spices assaulted their senses.

The sight before them was staggering; a massive city stretched out endlessly, its architectural style crude and chaotic, with towers, pavilions of varying heights, and makeshift shacks intermingled.

The streets were teeming with people, a constant flow of all sorts of characters.

Stalls along the roadside were filled with all manner of strange and curious items, from rare monster cores and sharp weapons to mysterious Dou Technique scrolls—everything one could imagine.

The sky of the Black Corner Region seemed stained by the darkness of this land, appearing gloomy and oppressive.

Dark clouds hung low, as if a torrential downpour could break out at any moment.

Yao Chen wore a grave expression, carefully shielding Xiao Yan and Xiao Yi Xian as they moved through the crowd.

Xiao Yan's eyes were wide, observing everything around him with curiosity, his heart filled with the unknown.

Xiao Yi Xian, meanwhile, kept her lips pressed thin, vigilantly watching for any potential danger.

In this Black Corner Region, survival was the only law; the strong were respected, while the weak could only struggle to survive in the cracks.

"Master, where are we going now?"

Xiao Yi Xian asked Yao Chen at this moment.

Yao Chen thought for a moment before speaking to Xiao Yan and Xiao Yi Xian.

"We shall find a place to stay first, and then I will go out to inquire about the whereabouts of that wicked disciple."

"Understood, Master."

As they spoke, they arrived in front of an inn, with four large characters written above it: "Blood Fiend Inn."

The exterior of the inn looked somewhat sinister; the walls were grayed by time, and the vermilion paint on the main gate was peeling away.

As they stepped into the inn, a mixed odor rushed toward them—the mellow fragrance of strong spirits, the acrid scent of tobacco, and the musty smell of long-neglected decay.

Inside the lobby, the lighting was dim, and several dilapidated wooden tables were scattered about, surrounded by various characters—some with fierce, fleshy faces, others with sinister gazes.

The proprietor behind the counter, his eyes cold and shrewd, was fiddling with an abacus.

Yao Chen and his companions approached the boss.

"Boss, give us three of your best rooms."

The boss looked at the three of them, all dressed in black and not appearing to be regulars, and decided to fleece them.

"Three rooms, one hundred gold coins each."

Hearing the boss's exorbitant demand, Xiao Yi Xian was the first to object, speaking to him angrily.

"You're running a den of thieves! At such a high price, we could buy so many medicinal herbs for three hundred gold coins!"

The boss, accustomed to such scenes, replied nonchalantly.

"Don't you know how dangerous the Black Corner Region is? In this region, only our inn is safe."

Seeing that Xiao Yi Xian still wanted to argue with the boss, Xiao Yan, adhering to the principle of avoiding unnecessary trouble, held her back and, with a smile, took out the money to give to the boss.

"Boss, we'll take them. Here are three hundred gold coins, keep it well."

The boss looked at the money bag Xiao Yan handed over, decided they were easy targets, and raised the price further.

"It was three hundred gold coins just a moment ago, but now it's five hundred."

Xiao Yan frowned slightly at this and said to the boss.

"Boss, that's a bit unprincipled, isn't it? We agreed on three hundred, why the sudden increase?"

The boss, acting as if they could leave if they didn't like it, said to them with disdain.

"Take it or leave it! It's five hundred now, and it'll be a thousand in a while. Don't you see if there's any other place in the Black Corner Region as safe as our inn?"

Xiao Yan, provoked by the boss's words, felt his temper flare. Blue flames immediately erupted from his body, and the iconic Dou Qi wings of a Dou King unfurled behind him.

The innkeeper was instantly terrified by this aura and knelt down, while the few onlookers in the shop turned away, not daring to look any further.

The boss immediately begged them with a trembling voice.

"Dou... Dou King, sir! This lowly one was blind and did not realize that such distinguished guests were gracing my humble shop."

Xiao Yan looked down at the snobbish boss and said with utter disdain.

"Get up. Do you still want five hundred gold coins for the rooms?"

"No, no, not at all! It is an honor for our shop to have such distinguished guests stay here; what money could I possibly ask for?"

Seeing Xiao Yan teach the snobbish boss a lesson, Xiao Yi Xian felt a sense of satisfaction and shouted at the boss.

"Then what are you waiting for? Take us there at once."

Hearing Xiao Yi Xian's command, the boss immediately stood up and led them to the three best guest rooms in the inn.

After reaching the second floor and settling them into the three rooms, the boss hurried downstairs, fearing that if he displeased them, his little shop would be finished.

At this time, Xiao Yan and Xiao Yi Xian both ran to Yao Chen's room to hear the teacher's next arrangements.

Fearing a repeat of the previous incident, Yao Chen instructed them.

"The two of you stay here for now. It is best if what just happened does not occur again. This Black Corner Region is lawless; there is no need to attract the attention of certain factions."

Xiao Yan lowered his head like someone who had done something wrong and spoke to Yao Chen.

"Understood, Teacher. There will not be a next time."

"This teacher will head out to gather information first. You two stay here and behave."

After saying this, Yao Chen exited the room and walked out to scout for information.

Yao Chen walked through the bustling streets with steady strides, his sharp gaze shooting out from beneath his hood as he calmly observed everything around him.

At times, Yao Chen would find a corner to sit in a noisy tavern, appearing to listen carelessly to the ramblings of drunkards while actually filtering useful information from their fragmented words.

At other times, he would converse in low tones with street vendors who hid their faces, exchanging a few gold coins for the gossip they held.

"Finally, I have found out clearly. I shall return and tell the two of them."

Upon returning to the inn, Yao Chen called Xiao Yi Xian and Xiao Yan to his room.

"This teacher has gathered enough information."

"There are four major factions in this Black Corner Region:

Black Emperor Sect: A veteran faction of the Black Corner Region with deep roots. The sect has a Dou Emperor guarding it, and its sphere of influence and impact in the Black Corner Region cannot be underestimated. They participate in the competition for various resources and the distribution of benefits throughout the region.

Blood Sect: The sect leader, Fan Lao, is a Dou Emperor. The Blood Sect acts quite ruthlessly and uses cruel methods. They expand their influence in the Black Corner Region through bloody means, and under their command are many experts such as Dou Kings. It is a rather formidable evil faction.

Demon Flame Valley: They also possess a certain level of strength in the Black Corner Region. The valley likewise has experts at the Dou Emperor and Dou King levels. They exist in competition and conflict with other factions, often fighting over cultivation resources, territory, and the like.

And then there is Jia Nan Academy: Although the main body of Jia Nan Academy is in the center of the Black Corner Region, it remains relatively independent from the chaotic order of the region. There are many instructors and students within the academy, among whom there is no lack of experts. The academy has a profound foundation and is a unique force in the Black Corner Region, exerting a certain deterrent effect on the factions of the region and maintaining relative peace in the central area."

"That rebellious disciple is not among these four major factions; he has established his own force called 'Maple City'."