" Elder Tang, what exactly happened? What about those people from the Jia Nan Academy...?" Lu Bo asked.
Xiao Yan sighed and briefly recounted what had happened, omitting the truth that he himself controlled the Soul Division Martial Soul.
"The leader of the Jia Nan Academy is a Peak Dou Wang instructor, along with two Peak Dou Ling assistants and more than a dozen students."
When I arrived, Zhao Hu and his men were already surrounded, and the situation was critical.
I was about to intervene and save them, but just then—"
He paused, his gaze turning serious.
Another Dou Emperor has appeared.
Lu Bo's expression changed drastically.
"Another Dou Emperor?!"
Xiao Yan nodded.
"Yes. The person was completely shrouded in a black robe, so his face was not visible."
He is very strong, no less so than me.
He said he had a past connection with the Jia Nan Academy and wanted to protect those people.
I fought him for nearly a hundred rounds, and neither of us gained the upper hand. In the end, he withdrew on his own. The people from the Jia Nan Academy took the opportunity to leave.
Lu Bo gasped.
" Dou Emperor with a past connection to the Jia Nan Academy? Could it be that Jia Nan Academy has brought in outside help?"
Xiao Yan shook his head.
"I don't know. But this matter must be reported to Alliance Leader Han as soon as possible."
"If Jia Nan Academy really manages to bring in a Dou Emperor- level outsider, the Black Alliance will be in grave danger."
Lu Bo nodded, his expression grave.
"Don't worry, Elder Tang, I'll send someone to Maple City to deliver the message right away."
Xiao Yan nodded, closed his eyes, and began to regulate his breathing.
Lu Bo quietly left the room and closed the door.
Several elders followed Lu Bo out of the courtyard. One of the elders asked in a low voice:
"Master, what is the background of that mysterious Dou Emperor? Could he be an elder of the Jia Nan Academy?"
Lu Bo shook his head.
"I don't know. But Elder Tang is right, this matter must be reported to Alliance Leader Han."
Another elder sighed.
"Fortunately, we had Elder Tang here. If it weren't for him, we would probably have suffered heavy losses today."
Lu Bo nodded.
"Yes, Elder Tang's strength is indeed well-deserved. This skill is beyond the reach of ordinary people."
He paused, his gaze sweeping over the elders.
"From now on, we must Elder Tang with even greater respect. He is not only the retainer sent by Alliance Leader Han, but now he is also the guardian deity of our Black Rock City."
"Yes!" the elders replied in unison.
Inside the room, Xiao Yan sat cross-legged on the bed, closing his eyes and regulating his breathing.
He was not seriously injured, but he had just used up some of his Soul Power.
But he needed to pretend to be injured so that Lu Bo and the others would believe that he had indeed gone through a tough battle.
"This act should be able to be kept secret," Xiao Yan thought to himself.
Outside the window, it was already bright daylight; several days had passed since the last filming.
Xiao Yan has been feigning injury recovery in his room for the past few days, but he had already informed the Black Alliance of the situation in a letter.
"It should be about time," he murmured.
He stood up, walked to the window, and opened it.
A breath of fresh air wafted over me, carrying the scent of grass and earth.
On the distant streets, Black Rock Gang members were patrolling, everything was in perfect order.
Just then, hurried footsteps came from outside the door.
" Elder Tang! Elder Tang!" Lu Bo's voice came from outside the door, tinged with excitement.
Xiao Yan turned around and said calmly, "Come in."
Lu Bo pushed open the door and entered, holding a letter in his hand and a smile on his face.
" Elder Tang, Alliance Leader Han has sent a letter!"
Xiao Yan took the letter and read it carefully.
The letter was short, but it conveyed Han Feng's satisfaction and trust.
In his letter, he wrote that Xiao Yan's performance in Black Rock City was outstanding. He successfully repelled the attack from the Jia Nan Academy and even forced back the mysterious Dou Emperor, making a great contribution to the Black Alliance.
Effective immediately, Xiao Yan will take full control of Black Rock City and be responsible for the defense of its southeastern region. All forces in Black Rock City and its surrounding areas must obey Xiao Yan's orders.
At the end of the letter, Han Feng specifically mentioned that he had sent people to investigate the identity of the mysterious Dou Emperor, and told Xiao Yan not to act rashly, but to first consolidate the defenses.
After reading the letter, Xiao Yan smiled faintly.
Han Feng was trying to win him over. Giving him full control of Black Rock City was both an acknowledgment of his abilities and a way to distance him from the Blood Sect.
After all, Black Rock City is far from the Blood Sect's base, and the longer he stays here, the less contact he will have with Fan Lao.
"What did Alliance Leader Han say, Elder Tang?" Lu Bo asked Xiao Xin.
Xiao Yan put the letter away and said calmly:
" Alliance Leader Han has entrusted me with full authority over Black Rock City, responsible for the defense of its southeastern region."
Lu Bo was overjoyed. "Excellent! With Elder Tang, Black Rock City is safe!"
Xiao Yan nodded, his gaze sweeping over Lu Bo.
"Chief Lu, starting today, Black Rock City's defenses will be redeployed."
The people of the Jia Nan Academy will not give up easily; we must be prepared.
Lu Bo nodded quickly. "Don't worry, Elder Tang, I'll arrange it right away!"
Xiao Yan raised his hand to stop him.
"No rush. Go and find out the situation in the city first, especially those smaller factions, and see if they have any spies from the Jia Nan Academy."
Then, a detailed defense plan should be developed.
Lu Bo felt a chill run down his spine, remembering what Xiao Yan had reminded him of earlier.
" Elder Tang. I'll go and do it right away."
Lu Bo turned and left.
Xiao Yan stood by the window, watching his retreating figure, a thoughtful look flashing in his eyes.
Han Feng's letter came at just the right time.
He needed a plausible excuse to arrange what was to come.
Meanwhile, in Maple City, in the bamboo building.
Han Feng sat in the main seat, holding a cup of tea in his hand, with a faint smile on his face.
Outside the window, the bamboo leaves rustled, and sunlight streamed through the gaps in the leaves, casting dappled shadows on the floor.
The room was filled with a faint aroma of tea, the finest Yunwu tea he had brought back from the central part of the continent.
"Alliance Leader, the letter from Black Rock City has arrived," Elder Ban said in a low voice, standing behind him.
Han Feng nodded and took a sip of tea.
"How's it going with Brother Tang?"
Elder Ban briefly recounted the message sent back by the scout.
Xiao Yan fought a fierce battle with the mysterious Dou Emperor, ending in a draw, and successfully rescued the Black Rock Gang members.
All personnel from the Jia Nan Academy evacuated, preventing further damage.
A hint of satisfaction flashed in Han Feng's eyes after hearing this.
" Brother Tang certainly didn't disappoint me."
He put down his teacup, stood up, and walked to the window.
" Elder Ban, who do you think that mysterious Dou Emperor is?"
After a moment of silence, the Elder Ban slowly said:
"I don't know. But that person was able to fight Elder Tang to a draw, so his strength must be at least at the Dou Emperor level."
Furthermore, he said he had a past relationship with the Jia Nan Academy, and it's possible he was an outsider brought in by the Jia Nan Academy.
Han Feng nodded, a hint of seriousness flashing in his eyes.
" Jia Nan Academy... is indeed not easy to deal with."
He paused, then suddenly smiled.
"However, this is for the best."
Elder Ban asked, puzzled, "Why does the Alliance Leader say such a thing?"
Han Feng turned around, looked at Elder Ban, and a meaningful smile appeared on his lips.
" Brother Tang fought with the people from the Jia Nan Academy and also battled that mysterious Dou Emperor."
From this day forward, he and Jia Nan Academy are now completely at odds.
Elder Ban seemed lost in thought.
"Is the Alliance Leader trying to use this opportunity to completely win Tang San over?"
Han Feng nodded.
"That's right. Brother Tang is powerful but has no powerful connections, making him the best person to win over."
I was a little worried because he used to be close to Fan Lao.
Now that he's been sent to Black Rock City and separated from the Blood Sect, it's the perfect opportunity for me to win him over."
He picked up his teacup and took another sip.
" Elder Ban, pass down the order to Black Rock City to fully cooperate with Brother Tang. Give him whatever he wants."
We must make him feel the Black Alliance's sincerity.
"Yes," Elder Ban replied, bowing.
Han Feng gazed at the bamboo forest outside the window, a hint of smugness flashing in his eyes.
He made a brilliant move in that game.
Black Rock City.
Over the next few days, Xiao Yan began to work on reorganizing the defenses of Black Rock City.
He convened a meeting with the leaders of the three major factions: the Black Rock Gang, the Iron Sword Sect, and the Blood Wolf Gang.
At the meeting, he made a brief appearance and announced Han Feng's order, requiring the three major forces to jointly defend against the invasion of the Jia Nan Academy.
Tie Wushuang readily agreed and immediately stated his willingness to cooperate.
Although Lang Tu was unwilling, he dared not object under pressure from Xiao Yan.
After the meeting, Xiao Yan kept Lu Bo behind alone.
"Chief Lu, starting today, the Black Rock City patrol will be expanded."
At Heavenly Supreme to patrol within a ten-mile radius outside the city.
"Once the Jia Nan Academy members are spotted, immediately signal them not to engage in battle."
Lu Bo nodded. "Don't worry, Elder Tang, I'll arrange it right away."
Xiao Yan added, "Also, you need to send people to keep an eye on those smaller factions in the city."
If anyone is colluding with the Jia Nan Academy, arrest them immediately.
Lu Bo's heart skipped a beat. " Elder Tang suspect there's a mole within the city?"
Xiao Yan didn't answer directly, but simply said, "Better Xiao Xin than sorry."
Lu Bo nodded, not daring to ask any further questions.
After arranging the defenses, Xiao Yan returned to his courtyard and closed the door.
He sat down at the table, took out a map from his pocket, and spread it out on the table.
That was a detailed map of the Black-Corner Region, showing the distribution of major forces and the terrain.
He slid his finger across the map, heading east from Black Rock City, across the Tianqing Mountain Range, and finally landing on a place marked " Tianya City ".
Tianya City, nestled deep within the Tianqing Mountain Range, is the only city within a thousand miles that possesses Space Wormhole leading to the Central Plains.
The distance from Black-Corner Region to Tianya City is approximately ten thousand miles.
Xiao Yan looked at the map, a thoughtful look flashing in his eyes.
He plans to go to Central Plains.
Having remained in the Black-Corner Region, he now has a very clear understanding of the situation.
Both Jia Nan Academy and the Black Alliance are wary of each other and will not engage in a major war for the time being. He cannot waste his time here; he will return to the Douluo Continent sooner or later.
Facing Bibi Dong, who is at the Titled Douluo level, Xiao Yan must have a means to protect his life.
He was going to leave temporarily and go to Central Plains, the most prosperous Dou Qi Continent, to look for opportunities to become stronger.
Moreover, after he leaves, he can use his Soul Division Martial Soul to pretend that he is still in Black Rock City, so as not to arouse suspicion.
The next morning, Xiao Yan found Lu Bo.
"Chief Lu, I need to go into seclusion for a while to consolidate my cultivation."
For the next few days, you will be in full charge of the city's affairs. Remember, do not leave the city unnecessarily, and do not provoke the people of the Jia Nan Academy.
Lu Bo nodded quickly. "Don't worry, Elder Tang, I will definitely guard Black Rock City."
Xiao Yan nodded, turned around and went back to the courtyard, closing the door behind him.
He sat cross-legged on the bed, and with a thought, his Soul Division Martial Soul separated from his body.
A dark, illusory figure coalesced before him, transforming into a humanoid form similar in size to him.
The figure's face was blurry, but upon closer inspection, Xiao Yan's outline could be vaguely discerned. Once he donned the black robe, he was indeed " Elder Tang."
Xiao Yan stood up, changed into an ordinary gray robe, and put on a bamboo hat to cover his face.
Then, he quietly opened the back window, jumped out of the yard, and disappeared into the morning light.
Black Rock City, Xiao Yan traveled eastward at breakneck speed.
He moved very fast, appearing as a gray shadow in the morning light.
For the next few days, Xiao Yan kept traveling.
He traveled during the day and rested at night, occasionally stopping in towns along the way to replenish his supplies.
The further east you go, the sparser the population becomes, and the more treacherous the terrain. The mountains grow higher, the forests denser, and the roads more difficult to traverse.
It wasn't until the seventh day that he entered the Tianqing Mountain Range.
The Tianqing Mountain Range stretch across the Black-Corner Region and the Central Plains, with steep terrain and a range of tens of thousands of miles.
Magical Beast roam the mountains, and human footprints are rare.
Ordinary merchants would need to hire a large number of guards to cross this mountain range, otherwise they would be courting death.
With Xiao Yan's strength, he naturally had nothing to fear.
The mountain path was rugged and overgrown with thorns. Occasionally, Magical Beast would appear, but they were all low-level Magical Beast. Sensing the aura that Xiao Yan was deliberately emanating from, they would flee far away.
Along the way, Xiao Yan also slaughtered a few Fifth Rank Magical Beast, since the materials he collected were quite valuable.
After walking for three days, he finally saw the outline of Tianya City.
Tianya City on a mountaintop deep within the Tianqing Mountain Range, with towering walls and a magnificent presence.
Every hundred paces along the city wall stood an arrow tower, its rooftops fluttering with colorful flags. The city gate was bustling with people—merchants, mercenaries, and adventurers—creating a lively and vibrant atmosphere.
Xiao Yan entered the city and headed straight for the square in the city center.
The square was packed with people.
In the center of the square stood a huge stone gate, ten zhang high and five zhang wide, entirely black, with a faint blue light flowing across its surface.
At the center of the stone gate was a rotating vortex, radiating intense spatial fluctuations.
That is Space Wormhole.
The Dou Qi Continent is vast and boundless. Even Dou Huang expert spends his entire life might not be able to travel all over the continent.
Therefore, Space Wormhole are channels on the Dou Qi Continent used to shorten the distance between two places and travel quickly.
This doesn't exist in the Douluo Continent.
Around the stone gate stood dozens of armored guards, each with a powerful aura, the lowest being at the Dou Ling level.
They scanned their surroundings warily, maintaining order.
Xiao Yan walked to the stone gate, where a guard stopped him.
"Using a wormhole requires a fee of 10,000 gold coins."
Xiao Yan took out a bag of gold coins from his pocket and handed it to the guard.
The guard took the number, counted them, and then nodded.