Black-Corner Region, Black Mark City

A young girl's voice reached his ears.

The girl called Xiao Xun'er wore a light golden dress. She was breathtakingly beautiful, with an otherworldly temperament.

She smiled faintly, her voice pleasant to hear.

"Ghost Suppression Pass is a major border town of the Jia Ma Empire, so naturally it is more lively."

A slightly older girl beside her reminded her:

"Mei'er, be careful not to run around."

"There are all sorts of people here. Stay close to the group."

The girl called Mei'er stuck out her tongue and replied with a grin:

"Got it, Sister Yu'er."

Listening to their conversation, Lu Xia understood.

This was Jia Nan Academy's recruitment party.

The one leading them was probably Instructor Ruo Lin.

Those girls... Xiao Xun'er, Xiao Yu, Xiao Mei...

They were all members of the Xiao Clan.

His gaze could not help settling on Xiao Xun'er.

The girl was around fourteen or fifteen years old and already possessed the beginnings of devastating beauty, her demeanor cool and noble.

As expected of the Ancient Clan's young lady. Her bearing was truly exceptional.

Lu Xia silently praised her.

It seemed she had noticed someone watching her.

Xiao Xun'er raised her head slightly and looked in Lu Xia's direction.

Their eyes met.

With a faint smile on his face, Lu Xia gave a slight nod as a greeting.

Then he shifted his gaze away.

Xiao Xun'er's delicate brows furrowed slightly, confusion appearing on her face.

This young man in white... she did not know him.

Why had he looked at her like that?

After thinking for a long while without finding an answer, she could only suppress her doubts and continue following the group forward.

The two groups passed each other.

Lu Xia walked to the side of the street and quietly watched Jia Nan Academy's party gradually disappear into the distance.

The people from Jia Nan Academy had already arrived at Ghost Suppression Pass.

That meant the early part of Xiao Yan's story had already passed.

Before long, he should be leaving to train and heading for Green Mountain Town.

Except...

Xiao Yi Xian had probably left Green Mountain Town long ago.

He wondered how Xiao Yan's story would change without the cave's hidden treasure and Xiao Yi Xian.

"What is it?"

Medusa noticed Lu Xia's unusual behavior and asked, her eyes carrying a hint of puzzlement.

"Is there something special about them?"

"It is only a Da Dou Shi leading a group of juniors. What is there to look at?"

Lu Xia withdrew his gaze and shook his head.

"Nothing."

"Let's keep going."

He did not explain further.

Even if he told Medusa these things, she might not understand.

Seeing that he was unwilling to say more, Medusa did not press him.

With a cold snort, she continued walking ahead.

The three left Ghost Suppression Pass and headed east.

They left the territory of the Jia Ma Empire.

The road ahead would take them through several small nations.

These small nations were weak, trapped between the Jia Ma Empire, the Chu Yun Empire, and the Falling Wild Goose Empire, barely surviving.

Even their strongest experts were only at the Dou Wang level.

To Lu Xia and the other two, they were not worth mentioning at all.

With Qinglin there, their travel speed was still not particularly fast.

Lu Xia was not in a hurry. He used this time to help Qinglin consolidate her Dou Master realm and teach her some basic Dou Techniques along the way.

Qinglin learned quickly and improved at an astonishing pace.

The power of the Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils revealed itself more with each passing day.

She had also released the Two-Headed Fire Spirit Snake several times.

Nourished by the Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils, Little Flame's strength steadily increased as well.

The relationship among the three also grew increasingly harmonious over the course of their journey.

Half a month later.

An endless black plain appeared before the three of them.

The soil of the plain was an eerie shade of black, radiating a grim and murderous aura.

Even from afar, they could sense the chaos and brutality permeating the air.

They had arrived at the Black Region Great Plain.

"Is this the Black-Corner Region?"

Qinglin stood on tiptoe and looked at the vast black plain ahead, curiosity written across her face.

It was her first time in a place like the Black-Corner Region.

"Mm."

Lu Xia nodded, gazing deep into the plain with a calm expression.

"Only after crossing the Black Region Great Plain can one be considered to have truly entered the heart of the Black-Corner Region."

"Han Feng's Feng City lies deep within the Black-Corner Region."

Medusa stood to one side, her eyes narrowing slightly.

She had also heard of Han Feng's reputation.

A sixth-tier alchemist, renowned throughout the Black-Corner Region.

"Where exactly is Feng City?"

Medusa asked calmly.

Hearing this, Lu Xia rubbed his chin and shook his head somewhat helplessly.

"I do not know its exact location either."

"I only know that Feng City is Han Feng's territory, somewhere in the Black-Corner Region."

"We'll take it one step at a time. Let's enter the Black-Corner Region first."

Though he knew Han Feng was in Feng City, he did not know its precise direction.

After all, the original work had not described Feng City's location in much detail.

Medusa did not ask further.

They had already come this far. They would find it eventually.

The three did not delay any longer and darted into the Black Region Great Plain.

The environment on the plain was even harsher than they had imagined.

Occasionally, they saw several weathered skeletons scattered beside the road, adding to the desolation.

Along the way, they also encountered several groups of wandering mercenaries and bandits.

But the moment they sensed the pressure radiating from Lu Xia, they wisely took a detour.

People in the Black-Corner Region all knew how to read the situation. They knew exactly what sort of people they could not afford to provoke.

After traveling for most of the day.

The outline of a city finally appeared on the distant horizon.

The city was not small. Its walls were entirely built from stone, thick and sturdy.

"That is Black Mark City."

Lu Xia looked at the city, the corner of his lips curling upward.

"One of the most prosperous cities in the Black-Corner Region."

"The famous Black Mark Auction House from the original work is held there."

At the mention of an auction house, he became somewhat interested.

They could go in and have a look. Perhaps they might find something good.

The three quickened their pace and soon arrived at the city gates.

Above the gates were three vigorous characters: Black Mark City.

The strokes were wild and flowing, carrying an untamed aura.

Once they entered the city, a wave of clamorous noise rushed over them.

The streets were filled with all kinds of people: mercenaries carrying blades and swords, Poison Cultivators with gloomy expressions, and wealthy merchants clad in fine silk.

Every one of them carried more or less a murderous air.

Chaotic, yet brimming with life.

"Wow, it's so lively here."

Qinglin widened her eyes, looking around curiously.

Lu Xia smiled but said nothing.

His gaze swept over the shops lining the street and quickly settled on one selling maps.

"Come on. Let's buy a map first."

The three entered the shop.

The shop was not large, but its walls were covered with all kinds of maps.

There were complete maps of the Black-Corner Region and detailed maps of individual cities.

Lu Xia directly chose the most detailed topographical map of the Black-Corner Region, paid for it, then unfolded it and inspected it carefully.

The map was exquisitely drawn, with the locations of the major factions clearly marked.

His finger moved slowly across the map before finally stopping at one point.

"Found it!"

Lu Xia pointed at a city marker on the map.

"Feng City lies in this direction from Black Mark City. It is still quite a distance from here."

Having confirmed the direction of his destination, he now had a clear plan in mind.