Traversing the Black-Corner Region! Killing the Chicken to Scare the Monkeys!

Xiao Ze stretched his back, finally arriving at the small town on the outskirts of the Black-Corner Region.

Several recruitment teams were already stationed here.

A large number of students recruited by Jia Nan Academy from various countries were lingering in the town.

"This town is controlled by Jia Nan Academy and is used to host the recruitment teams."

Instructor Ruolin came before the group and explained to everyone.

"The Black-Corner Region is a dark land filled with chaos and slaughter; one careless step and you could encounter disaster."

"Once all the recruitment teams have returned, the academy's experts will escort us to Jia Nan Academy as a group."

"There is still some time left, so you may wander around this town."

"Recruitment teams from all corners of the land have gathered here; you might find something that interests you, so feel free to take a look."

"Remember! Fighting is strictly prohibited in this town!"

Instructor Ruolin's expression was solemn. After finishing her final sentence, she waved her hand, signaling the students to disperse.

Xiao Ze, Xiao Xun'er, Xiao Yi Xian, and the others did not leave, choosing instead to remain by Instructor Ruolin's side.

"Instructor Ruolin, roughly how long will it take to cross the Black-Corner Region and reach Jia Nan Academy?"

Xiao Ze asked.

"What? Are you already impatient to witness the scenery of Jia Nan Academy?"

Ruolin said with a smile.

She then pondered for a moment and mused.

"Normally speaking, our batch is considered quite late, so the recruitment teams should all be gathered within two days."

"Even with the protection of the academy's experts, crossing the Black-Corner Region is no simple matter."

"Natural disasters are one thing, but if we encounter hundreds or thousands of Black Bandits, that is where the real trouble lies."

"A conservative estimate would be about ten days."

Xiao Ze nodded. He found it difficult to cultivate while on the road.

He was mainly worried that the commotion would be too great and attract unnecessary trouble.

Once he reached Jia Nan Academy, he would be able to cultivate without restraint.

In his memory, Jia Nan Academy seemed to have a vast, seemingly endless mountain range behind it.

The Inner Academy, known as the core of Jia Nan Academy, was also hidden within those endless mountains.

Time slipped by in a flash.

In the early hours of this day, after counting all the teams, a pair of wings emerged from behind an old man, and with a slight flap, he hovered into the air.

"The recruitment teams have all arrived. You have half an hour to pack your gear. We depart immediately after half an hour; we will not wait for stragglers!"

His voice, wrapped in Dou Qi, resounded throughout the entire town.

Xiao Ze suddenly opened his eyes and rolled off the bed.

He had been sleeping in his clothes for the past two days; when out and about, it was better to be cautious rather than acting as if he were in his own home.

On the other two beds, Xiao Yi Xian and Xiao Xun'er opened their eyes one after the other.

"We are finally going to cross the Black-Corner Region. I am already impatient to get inside Jia Nan Academy and begin my cultivation."

The two women smiled and followed Xiao Ze outside.

Stepping out of the room, the area outside was already bustling, with a large number of people packing their gear.

Xiao Ze and his two companions all possessed Storage Rings and traveled light, so they had nothing to pack and simply waited by Instructor Ruolin's side.

Time passed in a blur of activity.

Half an hour later, the old man's voice echoed in their ears once again.

"The half-hour is up. Move out!"

The massive, sprawling procession set off, advancing toward this chaotic and bloody dark land.

Jia Nan Academy's annual recruitment ceremony was prone to attracting the covetous eyes of various parties.

After all, with such a massive group, there were always some daring individuals who wanted to take a bite out of them.

Especially those notorious Black Bandits of the Black-Corner Region, who had the "reputation" of licking blood off the edge of a blade.

Every year, countless desperate outlaws flocked to the Black-Corner Region to become Black Bandits.

As one generation of newcomers replaced the old, no one seemed able to learn a lesson from these events.

On the fifth day of the journey, a violent surge of energy fluctuations erupted at the tail end of the procession—it was the academy's experts taking action!

They were at least at the level of a Dou King!

Not long after, the old man controlled dozens of severed heads in the void, hanging them from the flagpoles throughout the procession to kill the chicken to warn the monkeys!

The flagpoles of the entire caravan were already adorned with severed heads.

These heads belonged to the Black Bandits who had attempted to raid the caravan over the past few days, hoping to snatch away at least one person.

As they ventured deeper into the Black-Corner Region, the number of heads on the flagpoles gradually increased, significantly amplifying their deterrent effect.

Many Black Bandits would weigh the risks before making a move, wondering if they would end up as just another head hanging on a pole as a warning.

The new students in the caravan, who had initially been in high spirits, turned deathly pale as they looked up at the ferocious, blood-stained heads atop the flagpoles.

However, the instructors said nothing; Jia Nan Academy was not looking to cultivate delicate flowers, but true powerhouses.

If one could not even endure the sight of blood and slaughter, then it was better to abandon the path of cultivation early!

Xiao Ze leaned against a flagpole, breathing in the air tinged with a faint scent of blood, his expression calm as he even began to conceptualize a brand-new ability in his mind.

Ever since he had obtained the Perfect Woe Poison Body, he had been consciously attempting to fuse the toxic power of the Woe Poison Body with the water-attribute Dou Qi within his body.

He had already seen initial results, but deeper development was required to allow the two energies to fully unleash their proper might.

In particular, the fusion of the Perfect Woe Poison Body and water-attribute Dou Qi might be able to create an entirely new, unique attribute.

Venomous Water or Poison-Water attribute?

Xiao Ze cast these naming thoughts aside; since it was not yet fully perfected, he would consider the name later.

Moreover, this unique attribute was likely the only one of its kind on the Dou Qi Continent, so naming it was of little consequence—as long as he understood the situation, that was enough.

Over the next few days, the harassment decreased significantly.

After all, the heads hanging on those flagpoles had once been vibrant, living lives.

Such was the price for daring to provoke Jia Nan Academy!

Xiao Ze stood up as two magnificent, towering mountains appeared before his eyes.

Between the massive mountains sat a small town.

Xiao Ze watched the town slowly come into focus within his field of vision, along with a plaque bearing the town's name.

Peace Town!

"This is Peace Town, and there is that Necro Tree!"

Xiao Ze looked toward that peculiar tree; it had witnessed the history of the struggle between Jia Nan Academy and the factions of the Black-Corner Region.

To secure a sliver of peace within this chaotic and murderous Black-Corner Region required efforts that far exceeded what ordinary people could imagine.

The corpse of a Dou Emperor and two corpses of Dou Kings hanging from the Necro Tree were ironclad proof!

"Phew, we have finally approached the outskirts of Jia Nan Academy. Next, we only need to cross a stretch of primeval forest to officially arrive at Jia Nan City!"

Instructor Ruolin said to Xiao Ze.

Xiao Ze nodded, his eyes filled with anticipation.

No accidents occurred thereafter, and they passed through the primeval forest safely.

A city of immense grandeur appeared before the many new students.

Jia Nan City!

Jia Nan Academy was located right in the center of the city!

Upon entering Jia Nan City, Xiao Ze could clearly sense that Instructor Ruolin had relaxed significantly.

"Instructor Ruolin, you can finally breathe easy now, right?"

Xiao Ze said with a smile.

Ruolin rolled her eyes and retorted crossly.

"The busy times are only just beginning; I have to arrange all the various matters for the new students' enrollment."

Ruolin made a bitter face and suddenly grabbed Xiao Ze's hand. "You are not allowed to pull a disappearing act on me again!"

"I'll try my best."

"No 'trying your best.' At the very least, wait until I have finished arranging the matters for those new students!"

Ruolin widened her eyes and glared at Xiao Ze, her usual gentle-as-water demeanor completely vanished!

"Alright, alright, alright."

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