Three days passed quickly.
On the morning of their departure, just as dawn was breaking, the various factions of the Black Alliance began to set off one after another.
Xiao Yan and Fan Lao led the Blood Sect's troops from Maple City, heading south at breakneck speed.
The group traveled along a rugged mountain path, flanked by dense forests, with the occasional bird call breaking the morning silence.
Xiao Yan and Fan Lao walked in the middle of the group, followed by twenty elite disciples of the Blood Sect.
These disciples were all handpicked by Fan Lao; most of them were Da Dou Shi, with two Dou Ling and one Dou Wang.
Although they weren't top-tier, Xiao Yan's purpose in going there was simply to prevent the people from the Jia Nan Academy from leaving, so he didn't need too many people.
Fan Lao walked at the front of the group, glanced back at Xiao Yan, and a complicated look flashed in his eyes.
" Brother Tang, do you think Jia Nan Academy might have received the news in advance?"
Xiao Yan shook his head, pondered for a moment, and then spoke:
"It's hard to say, but probably not."
The Black Alliance's operations are kept secret; Han Feng will not allow the news to leak out.
"That's good."
Fan Lao breathed a sigh of relief, but then frowned and said with some worry:
"However, I feel this operation was a bit rushed. Was Han Feng too hasty?"
Xiao Yan thought for a moment and then said:
He was indeed anxious, but there was a reason for it.
The Black Alliance has just been established, and if it doesn't produce some results in a short period of time, its members will fall out of favor.
Taking the initiative to attack Jia Nan Academy, let alone Han Feng's lack of confidence, even Sect Leader Fan and others would probably never want to do it a second time.
Therefore, targeting Jia Nan Academy's stronghold in the Black-Corner Region is the best option.
"That's true," Fan Lao sighed. "I just hope nothing goes wrong with this operation."
The group continued onward and soon left the territory of Maple City, entering the heart of the Black-Corner Region.
As Xiao Yan traveled, he secretly observed the surrounding terrain.
The terrain of Black-Corner Region is complex, with crisscrossing mountains and dense jungles, making it an ideal place for ambushes and surprise attacks.
If Jia Nan Academy sets up an ambush here, the Black Alliance forces will likely suffer heavy losses.
However, since Han Feng dared to make a move, he must have made thorough preparations.
After walking for most of the day, the group stopped to rest in a mountain valley.
Fan Lao had someone start a fire to cook, then walked over and sat down next to Xiao Yan.
" Brother Tang, at this speed, we should reach our target area by noon tomorrow. We'll spend the night here and continue our journey early tomorrow morning."
Xiao Yan nodded and asked, "Have the spies sent back any new intelligence?"
Fan Lao nodded and said to Xiao Yan:
"According to my latest information, it seems a new batch of people has arrived at the training camp, significantly increasing their numbers. The exact number is still unclear to my spies."
Xiao Yan took the note and glanced at it, his brows furrowing slightly.
He hadn't expected Jia Nan Academy to send newcomers to the Black-Corner Region at this time.
"Proceed according to the original plan for now."
Xiao Yan spoke up:
"We'll adapt to the situation once we get there. Jia Nan Academy's battle lines are too long right now, so the people who come shouldn't be too strong."
Besides, if all else fails, we can abandon the attack and look for another opportunity later.
Fan Lao sighed, "That's all we can do."
As night fell, the team set up camp to rest in the mountain valley.
Xiao Yan did not sleep, but sat by the fire, quietly regulating his breathing.
He was preoccupied with something else.
In this operation, his role was that of the Black Alliance retainer, assisting the Blood Sect in attacking the Jia Nan Academy's stronghold.
But he didn't want to actually become enemies with the Jia Nan Academy.
After all, Jia Nan Academy is Xiao Huohuo's alma mater, and there is no direct conflict between him and Jia Nan Academy.
If killing can be avoided, then it should be avoided.
He hadn't expected such a turn of events, so he could only try to improvise and see if he could secretly help Jia Nan Academy.
Nothing more was said that night.
The team continued their journey early the next morning.
Around noon, they arrived at their target area.
Fan Lao ordered his troops to halt and sent out scouts to investigate the situation at the two outposts.
The scout returned quickly, bringing the latest intelligence.
"Sect Master, everything is normal at the valley stronghold. There are about twenty people there, including three teachers."
"New recruits have indeed arrived at the training camp; there are now about sixty people and six instructors."
Fan Lao's face darkened.
"More than sixty people, six teachers... The instructors at the Jia Nan Academy are at least Da Dou Shi, but the one leading the team here is at least Dou Ling or higher. However, there are no Dou Emperor- level instructors..."
A sinister smile played on Fan Lao's face.
"It seems we should take this group from the Jia Nan Academy in!"
Fan Lao harbored a deep grudge against the Jia Nan Academy, and upon hearing that so many of the Jia Nan Academy students were here, a surge of murderous intent welled up within him.
Xiao Yan asked, "How strong are those new students?"
The scout replied:
"Judging from their attire, they should be upperclassmen, mostly at the Da Dou Shi level. We don't know the strength of those teachers, but with the Sect Master and Elder Tang, defeating them should be a piece of cake."
The disciple who was reporting inadvertently flattered Xiao Yan and Fan Lao.
" Brother Tang, what do you say?" Fan Lao looked at Xiao Yan beside him and asked.
Xiao Yan pondered for a moment, then slowly said, "Don't rush. Let me go over there and check the situation before making a decision."
"You're going?" Fan Lao frowned, not out of concern for Xiao Yan's safety.
Given Xiao Yan's strength, if he wanted to leave, the few people at the Jia Nan Academy wouldn't be able to stop him. Therefore, they felt there was no need to be so Xiao Xin.
Xiao Yan smiled and said meaningfully:
" Sect Leader Fan, rest assured, I will only observe from afar and will not approach."
Jia Nan Academy has stood the test of time on the Dou Qi Continent for so many years; it naturally possesses its own strengths and resources, so it should not be underestimated.
Fan Lao thought for a moment, then nodded and said, "Alright, be Xiao Xin. If anything goes wrong, come back immediately."
Xiao Yan got up, quietly left the camp, and headed towards the training camp.
He moved incredibly fast, weaving through the woods like a Gui Mei.
Before long, he approached the training camp.
The campsite was built on an open flat area, surrounded by a wooden fence, with dozens of tents pitched inside.
Xiao Yan hid in a large tree, observing the situation of the camp from a distance.
Inside the camp, the students of the Jia Nan Academy were training, some sparring and others Dou Technique, all in an orderly fashion.
Xiao Yan's gaze swept across the camp, quickly locking onto several individuals with strong auras.
In the center of the camp, where the mentor should be located, Xiao Yan could sense several powerful auras.
Xiao Yan frowned slightly, just about to leave, when he suddenly heard a commotion outside the camp.
He turned his head and saw a group of people walking out of the side gate of the camp and heading towards the mountains and forests.
The leader was a middle-aged man wearing a Jia Nan Academy robe, whose aura was probably at the Dou Wang level.
He was followed by a dozen or so trainees, all of them looking very energetic and carrying weapons.
Xiao Yan glanced around and noticed a boy among the group of students.
The boy was about seventeen or eighteen years old, with a burly build, a resolute face, and a large black knife in his hand. He exuded a fierce killing intent.
His aura was at the Da Dou Shi level, making him outstanding among the students.
But what caught Xiao Yan's attention wasn't his strength, but the expression on his face—a deep-seated hatred, as if he were ready to fight someone at any moment.
"This young man..." Xiao Yan's heart stirred; he felt he looked somewhat familiar.
He thought about it carefully, and suddenly remembered.
This young man was the same one Xiao Yan had seen in the plaza outside the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower of the Jia Nan Academy.
If Xiao Yan remembered correctly, the people around him at the time seemed to call him Wu Hao.
Xiao Yan instantly realized that Wu Hao must be Xiao Huohuo's friend from the Inner Academy, but he didn't know why Wu Hao had appeared in the Black-Corner Region.
Looking in the direction they left, Xiao Yan felt somewhat helpless.
The Blood Sect members are nearby. Leaving now would be like a lamb entering a tiger's den, walking into the Blood Sect's encirclement.