"Who?"
The team leader's voice echoed in the night sky, trembling slightly.
His sword was held horizontally in front of him, the blue Dou Qi on its blade surging like flowing water, gleaming Youyou in the moonlight.
His gaze was fixed on the black figure slowly emerging from the depths of the woods, his pupils slightly contracting.
No one answered.
But the black figure slowly emerged from the shadows of the woods.
The moonlight shone down, illuminating the figure. He wore a long black robe, his hat pulled low, obscuring his face.
But he exuded a chilling aura—the oppressive feeling only a Dou Emperor- level expert possessed, pressing down on everyone's hearts as if it were a tangible substance.
The Black Rock Gang members were stunned for a moment, then erupted in thunderous cheers!
"It's Elder Tang! It's Elder Tang!"
"Tang, the Black Alliance's Elder Tang arrived! We're saved!"
"Haha, you scum of the Jia Nan Academy, your death is nigh!"
A glint flashed in Zhao Hu's eyes, the glint of someone who had survived a calamity.
He knelt on one knee, bowed his head in Xiao Yan's direction, his voice hoarse but full of gratitude:
" Elder Tang... Your subordinate is incompetent, causing you to come in person. I deserve to die!"
The Black Rock Gang disciples behind him also knelt down, some even weeping with joy.
In their eyes, Dou Huang expert is an invincible being.
With Elder Tang's arrival, they were safe.
Xiao Yan slightly raised his hand, his voice calm. "Rise. No need for formalities."
His gaze passed over Zhao Hu and the others, landing on the Jia Nan Academy group.
The atmosphere at the Jia Nan Academy was completely different.
The excitement and pride on the trainees' faces froze instantly, replaced by deep fear and tension.
The weapons in their hands trembled slightly, and they involuntarily took a few steps back.
Some people broke out in a cold sweat, and some people's breathing became rapid.
"A... Dou Emperor?!"
One of the students exclaimed, his voice filled with disbelief.
"How is that possible? How could Dou Emperor be stationed in Black Rock City?"
"That wasn't mentioned in the intelligence..."
Whispers spread among the trainees, tinged with panic.
The team leader's face was ashen. His sword tip drooped slightly, but his gaze remained fixed on Xiao Yan.
He knew that they had no chance of winning against a Dou Huang expert.
But he could not back down.
"Who are you?" he asked in a deep voice, trying to keep his tone steady.
"I am Lei Zhen, an instructor at the Outer Academy of the Jia Nan Academy, and I have been ordered to eliminate the villains of the Black-Corner Region."
If you happen to be passing by, please do me a favor. If you insist on protecting these people...
He didn't finish his sentence, but the meaning was clear— Jia Nan Academy wouldn't let this go.
Xiao Yan looked at him, his gaze calm as still water.
"I am a High Priest of the Black Alliance, ordered to guard Black Rock City. These people are my men."
Lei Zhen's pupils contracted sharply.
Black Alliance Offering?
Black Alliance retainer at the Dou Emperor level?
This message must be relayed back to the academy!
He took a deep breath and slowly raised the sword in his hand.
"Since that's the case, then there's nothing more to say. Let's see who's the best!"
He waved his hand, his voice cold and sharp. "Form ranks! Prepare to meet the enemy!"
Despite their fear, the trainees acted swiftly upon hearing the order.
They quickly dispersed according to the pre-rehearsed formation, forming a semi-circular encirclement.
Swords were drawn, and Dou Qi surged. Although they were facing Dou Huang expert, no one backed down.
Two assistants stood beside Lei Zhen. The woman flicked her wrist, and the silver whip crackled loudly in the air, with arcs of electricity leaping across its body.
The short, stout man gripped the short blade tightly with both hands, the eerie green light on the blade appearing particularly strange in the moonlight.
Xiao Yan looked at them and sighed inwardly.
He didn't want to hurt anyone.
But he couldn't let the Black Rock Gang see through his disguise.
Just then, something unexpected happened!
A similarly terrifying aura suddenly erupted from the other side of the woods!
That aura was completely different from Xiao Yan's; it was colder, more eerie, and carried a chilling aura that made one's heart tremble.
It swept in like an invisible wave, engulfing the entire battlefield!
Everyone changed color at the same time!
"There's one more person?!"
Lei Zhen's face turned completely pale.
One Dou Emperor was already beyond their capabilities; if another one came, they wouldn't even have a chance to escape!
The Black Rock Gang members were also stunned.
"What's going on? Does Jia Nan Academy also have Dou Huang expert supporting them?"
"No, that aura... it's not from the Jia Nan Academy! It's from the other side!"
Zhao Hu frowned deeply, a hint of doubt flashing in his eyes. He wasn't sure if this person was friend or foe.
Just then, a dark figure slowly emerged from the other side of the woods.
The figure, like Xiao Yan, wore a black robe, but was more slender, and was surrounded by a faint layer of black mist.
His face was hidden in the shadow of his hat, making it difficult to see clearly, but his eyes—if they could be called eyes—flickered with an eerie red light.
Soul Division Martial Soul.
Xiao Yan controlled it through a soul connection, making it disguise itself as an independent powerhouse.
The dark figure emerged from the woods, its gaze sweeping across the entire area before finally settling on the group from the Jia Nan Academy.
His voice was hoarse and deep, as if it came from the depths of the underworld:
"People from the Jia Nan Academy?"
Lei Zhen was taken aback, then asked warily, "Who are you...?"
The dark figure said calmly:
"I have a past with the Jia Nan Academy. Today, I will not let you die here."
Everyone was stunned by these words.
The students of the Jia Nan Academy looked at each other, their eyes flashing with surprise and doubt.
What does "old" mean? Does it mean they are allies?
Lei Zhen frowned as well. He didn't remember the academy having such a powerful figure, but since the other party claimed to have a past with the Jia Nan Academy, they shouldn't be an enemy.
"Thank you for your kindness. But these people—"
"I know."
A dark figure interrupted him, "You're eliminating forces in the Black-Corner Region. But you're no match for this man. I'll hold him off; you retreat."
Lei Zhen hesitated for a moment, then gritted his teeth and said, "Alright! I won't thank you for this great kindness; I will definitely repay you in the future!"
He waved his hand and ordered the trainees behind him, "Retreat! Retreat now!"
The trainees felt as if they had been granted a pardon, and they quickly put away their weapons and retreated into the depths of the woods.
Two assistants followed behind. The woman glanced back at the dark figure, a complex expression flashing in her eyes, but ultimately turned and left.
The Black Rock Gang members panicked upon seeing this.
" Elder Tang! They're trying to escape!"
"Chase them! We can't let them get away!"
Xiao Yan raised his hand to stop them.
"Don't chase them."
Zhao Hu was taken aback. " Elder Tang, why?"
Xiao Yan did not answer, but simply looked at the dark figure with a calm gaze.
"Because there's still one."
The moment the words left his mouth, the dark figure moved!
He flashed forward, like Gui Mei, and pounced on Xiao Yan!
" Xiao Xin!"
Zhao Hu exclaimed in surprise, but the next moment...
"Bang!"
The two collided in mid-air, creating a deafening roar!
Black energy and Dou Qi scattered and flew everywhere, shaking the surrounding pine trees so much they swayed and bent!
The ground was blasted into a huge crater, with rubble and dirt flying everywhere!
Zhao Hu was jolted back several steps by the shockwave, his eyes filled with horror as he watched Xiao Yan fight against the Soul Division Martial Soul.
Is this what a battle at the Dou Emperor level is like?
The aftershocks alone almost made him, a Peak Dou Ling cultivator, lose his footing!
"Retreat! Retreat quickly!" he shouted sharply, leading the Black Rock Gang disciples in a retreat.
In the sky, Xiao Yan was fiercely fighting against his Soul Division Martial Soul!
With a single strike of his Soul Division Martial Soul, black mist transformed into a gigantic hand, slamming down towards Xiao Yan's head!
The palm was several meters in size, and wherever it passed, the air was torn apart, emitting a piercing shriek!
Xiao Yan neither dodged nor evaded, but formed hand seals, and flames condensed in front of him into a huge fire shield!
"Boom!"
The black hand slammed onto the fire shield, unleashing a deafening roar!
The fire shield trembled violently, but did not shatter.
Xiao Yan was knocked back several feet, but quickly regained his footing.
" Cold Fire - Condensed Soul Stab!"
Xiao Yan let out a low shout, and his First Soul Ring appeared beneath his feet.
Dozens of ice crystal spears shot towards the Soul Division Martial Soul!
The Soul Division Martial Soul Dissection vanished in a flash.
The ice crystal spears missed their mark, piercing the ground and blasting out large craters!
The next moment, the Soul Division Martial Soul appeared behind Xiao Yan and struck him in the back with a palm!
Xiao Yan seemed to have anticipated this, and suddenly turned around, throwing a punch!
"Bang!"
Their fists clashed, and they separated once more!
This time, the two stood facing each other from a distance of several dozen feet.
Xiao Yan's robes fluttered in the wind. His expression was calm, but a barely perceptible smile flashed in his eyes—he had acted quite well.
The black mist around the Soul Division Martial Soul became even denser.
Its voice was hoarse and deep, echoing in the night sky. "Kid, you're not bad. But today, you can't stop me."
Xiao Yan said calmly, "Whether we can stop them or not, we'll only know after we fight."
The Soul Division Martial Soul sneered and formed hand seals. Black mist condensed in front of him, transforming into a gigantic black dragon that opened its maw and pounced on Xiao Yan!
The dragon was tens of feet long, its entire body was pitch black, and its eyes burned with red flames, exuding a destructive aura!
It roared and charged toward Xiao Yan, leaving a deep furrow in its wake and uprooting trees in its wake!
Xiao Yan took a deep breath, and his Soul Power surged wildly within him.