Support me at patreon for 60+ advanced chapters :
patreon.com/YaoIk
**
The Black-Corner Region was vast beyond imagination.
Moreover, it was still expanding outward little by little each year, steadily turning into a sprawling empire or colossal force in its own right.
The only difference between it and the other empires or major powers was this: other empires had supreme leaders or councils of elders in control.
But this place—here, it was every man for himself, like the chaotic Warring States period, where hundreds of lords ruled their own domains, fighting endlessly for their own interests. The result was ceaseless conflict and slaughter, a chaotic region scattered like grains of sand.
Yet precisely because of this, the Black-Corner Region had managed to grow stronger in this part of the continent year by year, expanding further without drawing too much attention or suppression from neighboring forces.
Otherwise, no power would stand idly by and allow such a destructive dark zone to grow unchecked, potentially becoming a serious threat to them.
Even so, while the Black-Corner Region was infamous for its chaos, the stream of high-tier cultivation techniques, Dou Techniques, pills, and other rare treasures flowing out from it continued to attract many powerful individuals from across the continent.
Thus, the Black-Corner Region was like a deep, bottomless black hole. Countless precious items flowed in through various channels, only to be auctioned at sky-high prices, igniting fierce competition, before eventually flowing back out to the wider world.
…
High in the dim sky, above the cloud layers—
A streak of black-purple light shot through the air like a bolt of lightning. Beneath it, mountains and rivers flew by in a blur.
A thin, transparent protective barrier enveloped the light, ensuring that despite the extreme speed, the interior remained calm and untouched by the winds.
On the back of this flowing light, three figures sat cross-legged.
It was Wei Yang and his group, flying day and night along the mapped route toward the Black-Corner Region.
The distance between the Jia Ma Empire and the Black-Corner Region was considerable. On the way, they had to pass through several small countries, tribal territories, uninhabited mountain ranges, vast forests, and more.
Only after that could they reach the edge of the Black-Corner Region.
If one were to travel this distance on foot or even by carriage, it would take months—half a year at least.
But Wei Yang's group was different. They had the Dou Zong-level beast, Du Jiao, as their mount. Its flying speed was far beyond the reach of ordinary methods of travel.
Thus, what would normally be a long and arduous journey was quickly shortened, even though Du Jiao was flying at a relatively leisurely pace.
In just five days, the endless mountains and forests below gradually grew sparse.
Hiss~
Du Jiao let out a low cry.
The three, immersed in cultivation, were startled awake. They slowly opened their eyes and looked ahead.
At the horizon in the distance, a pitch-black plain stretched out, like a long, dark line separating two completely different worlds.
"That's the Great Plains of the Black Region," Wei Yang said with a faint smile as he looked at the gradually expanding black line.
According to the map, this plain marked the western gateway of the Black-Corner Region. Once they passed through, they would officially enter this dark, chaotic world that was utterly at odds with the outside.
"We're finally here," the two women stood up, curiosity lighting their faces as they gazed at the horizon.
"Yeah. After flying for five days, we've finally arrived." Wei Yang stood as well, stretching his limbs with a satisfied sigh.
As time passed, the distance rapidly shrank.
At last, they crossed into the Great Plains of the Black Region.
Du Jiao slowed slightly and dropped in altitude, its massive body piercing through the cloud layer.
Standing in the air, the trio looked down upon the black earth below.
It was a vast and boundless plain.
All around, the land was monotonously black, as if soaked in ink.
Set against the permanently dim skies, a faintly oppressive and agitating atmosphere lingered over the region, making one feel on edge.
In such a strange land, it was no wonder that chaotic and brutal rules had taken root.
Staying in a place like this for years—no matter how calm a person may be—would inevitably have some influence on them, making their temper gradually grow irritable.
The environment is the most capable of changing people.
And such a vast and peculiar region truly made one sigh in admiration at the wonders of nature.
——
At this moment—Qing Lin suddenly tugged on Wei Yang's sleeve, pointed ahead, and softly exclaimed, "Young Master, Sister Xian'er, look!"
Wei Yang and Xian'er looked in the direction Qing Lin was pointing and were momentarily stunned.
Up ahead, the sky that had previously been clear was now—without them even noticing—shrouded in a strange black mist that obscured the entire horizon.
Their line of sight was heavily obstructed; they couldn't see anything clearly.
That whole region of heaven and earth had swiftly become engulfed in black mist, as if darkness had suddenly descended.
"It's a black storm," Wei Yang raised an eyebrow and said softly.
He felt a bit speechless in his heart—truly worthy of being the Black-Corner Region. They had just arrived and already been given a heavy slap in the face.
"Black storm?" The two girls showed puzzled expressions.
"The black storm is a unique and common natural disaster found only on the Great Plains of the Black Region," Wei Yang explained softly. "Here, black storms like that one ahead, capable of blotting out the sky and sun, appear from time to time. They're much like sandstorms in the desert—some are strong, some are weak—all natural phenomena."
"A black storm? That's fascinating!" The two girls nodded slightly, not overly surprised.
After all, when they had previously searched for the Black Sun Burning Heaven Flame, they had already seen countless sandstorms in the desert, and had even witnessed the sky-filling poison mists of the Ghostly Marsh. So these naturally formed extreme environments didn't strike them as particularly unusual.
Strange natural phenomena arising from special regions or environments was a common occurrence.
Wei Yang, however, frowned slightly. Just now, a faint and vague thought had suddenly surfaced in his mind, but it vanished in a flash, and he hadn't been able to grasp it.
He tried to concentrate and reflect, but no matter how hard he tried, he simply couldn't catch that fleeting spark of insight.
At that moment—
Hss—
The soft whinny of the Du Jiao rang out.
"Young Master, Du Jiao is asking if we should avoid it," said Qing Lin.
Wei Yang was pulled out of his thoughts, and could only shake his head regretfully.
"Brother Yang, what's wrong?" Xian'er noticed something odd about Wei Yang and asked.
"Nothing." Wei Yang shook his head lightly and looked ahead.
He saw that the already dim sky had, without any warning, plunged into complete darkness. Moreover, that darkness was swiftly spreading toward them, expanding in all directions.
It was like a drop of black ink falling into a bowl of clear water—silently and rapidly diffusing outward.
In no time, even though Wei Yang and his group were high up in the sky, they were gradually engulfed by the darkness—dragged swiftly from light into the dark.
"No need to avoid it! Du Jiao, lower altitude. I want to see what this so-called black storm really is," Wei Yang suddenly ordered, as if he had thought of something.
Hss—
The Du Jiao let out a soft cry, flicked its tail, and quickly descended from several hundred meters to about a hundred meters, then hovered quietly in the dark sky.
Wei Yang and the others were the type to act boldly because of their strength. For mercenaries, fugitives, the thousands of black bandits, and passing merchant caravans who lived on the Great Plains of the Black Region all year round, the terrifying black storms were something they feared and avoided at all costs. But to Wei Yang's group, they didn't seem all that threatening.
At this moment, as they descended, it wasn't long before a howling black gale swept down from the depths of the sky.
Instantly, the massive body of the Du Jiao, along with Wei Yang and the two girls standing on its back, was completely enveloped by the eerie black wind.
----------------------------------------------------------
Support me at patreon for 60+ advanced chapters :
patreon.com/YaoIk