Spatial Strangulation!

The group of elders looked at one another, rendered speechless by the shock.

If one were to ask who in the Dou Qi Continent could achieve the rank of Dou Zun at the age of twenty-something, aside from Xiao Ze, one would likely not find a second person.

"Is your Xiao Sect still recruiting?" one elder suddenly asked.

"The Xiao Sect is currently in a growth phase, so naturally, we need a large amount of talent. If any graduates from Jia Nan Academy are interested in joining, I would be more than happy to have them," Xiao Ze said with a smile.

After all, Jia Nan Academy was renowned throughout the Dou Qi Continent, and such talent was exactly what the Xiao Sect required.

To be honest, he did not feel at ease relying solely on those lackeys from the Black-Corner Region.

Once he left, there was no guarantee they wouldn't rebel, and at that point, the Black-Corner Region he had worked so hard to conquer would have to be handed over on a silver platter.

This was not something he wanted to see.

"That is good, then." Upon hearing this, the elder nodded in satisfaction.

Although the Black-Corner Region was not comparable to the Central Plains, for these fledglings just starting out, it was not a bad place to go.

Furthermore, with the Xiao Sect as an endorsement, the students' safety would have a much greater guarantee.

After all, quite a few students died every year in the internal strife of the Black-Corner Region.

"Then it is settled."

Ending the conversation, Xiao Ze was in no rush to return.

Instead, he went to the room where Xiao Yu was staying.

By now, she had become a Heaven-tier instructor of the Inner Academy, and during her first lecture, she had displayed such proud talent that she had left the Inner Academy disciples below the stage completely spellbound.

Inside the room, seeing Xiao Ze arrive, Xiao Yu's beautiful eyes carried a hint of reproach. "You finally decided to show up? I thought you had gone missing again."

Since entering the Inner Academy, she hadn't caught a glimpse of him. If she hadn't learned from Xun Er that he had gone to the bottom of the Heavenly Burning Qi Refining Tower, she would have thought something had happened to him.

"Sorry, cousin, I've been a bit busy lately," Xiao Ze said apologetically, quickly pulling her into his arms.

Feeling the heat radiating from his chest, Xiao Yu's pretty face flushed slightly, and she coquettishly said, "I'll spare you this time, but you must accompany me tonight."

"That goes without saying."

That night, Xiao Ze rewarded Xiao Yu thoroughly, as if it were a final farewell.

After all, he could not stay in the Inner Academy to accompany her forever.

Hearing that he was leaving, Xiao Yu immediately protested; she had waited so long, and yet he was leaving after only a few days.

"Be good. Once I take down the Black Emperor Sect and Demon Flame Valley, I will come back to find you." Kissing Xiao Yu on the forehead, Xiao Ze put his clothes back on.

Xiao Yu could only watch him leave, her eyes filled with resentment, looking like a young bride who had yet to be married.

However, Xiao Ze did not return directly to Maple City; instead, he spent the night in Xun Er's room, likewise rewarding her thoroughly.

Not long after, Xiao Ze returned to Maple City.

Through his inquiries, he learned that during this time, the Black Emperor Sect and Demon Flame Valley had not been idle; they had been recruiting troops and buying horses on a massive scale, and many had been unable to resist the temptation to defect to their side.

They were vaguely preparing for a direct confrontation with the Xiao Sect.

The opposition also possessed several Dou Zong experts, among whom the Demon Flame Valley Master, Old Demon Earth, had even reached the level of a seven-star Dou Zong!

He was the leader of this alliance.

Listening to Yuan Yi's report, Xiao Ze, sitting in the main seat, tapped his fingers against the table, his mind made up.

"The ultimatum has already been delivered. Since they are so fearless, what do I have to fear?" Xiao Ze sneered.

Immediately, he looked toward those below and said, "Yuan Yi, quickly assemble all experts at the Dou King level and above. Follow me to attack Demon Flame Valley and the Black Emperor Sect!"

"Yes!" Yuan Yi received the order and withdrew.

At the same time, Xiao Ze also brought his three main wives along with him.

This great battle might well be the final one; whether he could unify the Black-Corner Region depended on this moment.

Soon, his subordinates were assembled.

Nearly a hundred experts at the Dou King level and above took to the air, their momentum blotting out the sky and sun.

Above Maple City, everyone watched this shocking scene, their hearts filled with extreme fear.

Facing so many experts, they could not imagine how Demon Flame Valley and the Black Emperor Sect could possibly resist.

Could they rely solely on those few Dou Zong?

At this moment, having received the news, the Demon Flame Valley Master, Old Demon Earth, and the Black Emperor Sect Master, Mo Tianxing, exchanged glances, unable to stop the sneers in their hearts.

They had been worrying that the other side wouldn't come, but they hadn't expected them to be so impatient; it truly saved them the trouble of having to go to them personally.

Holding nearly two hundred experts at the Dou King level and above, they truly did not know how they could possibly lose.

"Old Demon Earth, let's make this clear first: after we take Maple City, I want half the profits!" Mo Tianxing's eyes flickered.

"That goes without saying," Old Demon Earth laughed.

The reason they had been able to reach an agreement was precisely because they had their eyes on the location of Maple City; how could such a lucrative prize be handed over to that brat, Xiao Ze?

A kid whose hair hadn't even fully grown yet dared to spout nonsense about unifying the Black-Corner Region; he should look in a mirror and see what he looked like.

Just as the two were conversing.

Suddenly, a massive spatial rift appeared in the sky.

Over a hundred figures slowly emerged from it, led by none other than Xiao Ze and his three primary wives.

Xiao Ze's gaze was indifferent as he looked down from above, observing every move of the Black Emperor Sect.

With a mere thought, a majestic pressure, capable of destroying the heavens and extinguishing the earth, instantly descended like a dark cloud, completely shrouding Black Emperor City!

Gravel rattled and buildings shook violently; under the crushing weight of this pressure, the entire Black Emperor City seemed on the verge of collapse at any moment!

The crowd was horrified, staring at the spatial rift in the sky, their shock beyond words.

"Tearing through space—a divine skill rumored to be usable only by Dou Zun experts. Could it be that the opponent is a Dou Zun?"

Since when did their Black-Corner Region possess a Dou Zun?

While the crowd was bewildered, the belatedly arriving Mo Tianxing and Old Demon Earth frowned as they looked at the group in the sky.

They arrived so quickly?

They were completely unaware of the others' reactions.

As for a Dou Zun? If he is a Dou Zun, then I am a Dou Di!

"Are you Xiao Ze?" Old Demon Earth asked first.

Xiao Ze ignored Old Demon Earth, instead fixing his gaze on Mo Tianxing. "Hand over the Bodhi Body-Transforming Saliva!"

Feeling the terrifying pressure radiating from Xiao Ze, Mo Tianxing was completely stunned. Wasn't the opponent a Dou Zong?

Since when were Dou Zong so strong? Even he, a four-star Dou Zong, was struggling to keep his footing.

Yet, facing Xiao Ze's unreasonable demand, Mo Tianxing forced himself to remain calm and said coldly, "There is no reason for this sect to hand over what belongs to it."

"Is that so?" Xiao Ze smiled. "I had intended to give you a chance to redeem yourself, but it seems that is no longer necessary."

With that, Xiao Ze lost interest.

He extended his palm and clenched it toward the space where they stood.

"Spatial Shred!"

In an instant, the entire world seemed to be gripped by an invisible giant hand.

Dozens of spatial rifts were torn open, and the terrifying energy fluctuations seemed capable of slicing the very heavens apart.

"A Dou Zun expert!"

Horror filled the eyes of Mo Tianxing and Old Demon Earth. Only at this moment did they realize that their opponent was actually a Dou Zun!

How laughable that they had been provoking him so recklessly; the threat of death instantly brought them to their senses.