Chapter 244: Disguise—Activated!
After leaving the valley and traveling for about two hours, a city emerged from amidst the steep mountain ranges. Once Xiao Yuan had safely settled Lin Xiuyuan, Xiao Yu, Zi Yan, and the others, he parted ways and continued rapidly toward Black Emperor City.
Zi Yan was on the verge of advancing. With Elder Su Qian's protection at the Inner Academy, she would be much safer there.
As for the energy required for her breakthrough, Xiao Yuan had long since prepared by refining a batch of medicinal materials into highly concentrated pills while still in the Jia Ma Empire.
Each pill contained enough energy to burst a normal Dou Wang—more than sufficient for Zi Yan's needs.
On the way, Xiao Yuan once again changed his appearance—"Ice Emperor Xuan Bing" had returned to the Black-Corner Region!
This time, he expected to stay in Black Emperor City for a while. The Soul Hall pursuers would inevitably catch up, but thanks to the efforts along the journey, Yao Lao had helped blend Zi Yan's breakthrough aura with Xiao Yuan's faint presence. Xiao Yuan had also only used wind attribute Dou Qi along the way, creating the illusion that he was about to break through.
Now, with his outfit and aura completely altered, even Soul Hall would be at a loss. This would buy him precious time to cultivate.
He had decided—once he arrived in Black Emperor City, he would begin refining the massive amount of Dou Qi extracted from the Demonic Poison Mark.
That way, even without Yao Lao's help, he could face the Soul Hall's forces with confidence.
After a day of relentless travel, Xiao Yuan and Xiao Yixian gradually neared Black Emperor City. As they drew closer, they noticed more and more people on the roads—clearly, many were headed to the same auction.
In a place like the Black-Corner Region, a growing crowd naturally led to more conflict. At first, Xiao Yixian was surprised by the frequent, brutal fights along the way—but soon, like Xiao Yuan, she grew numb to them.
By dusk, under the shaded trees, the massive silhouette of a city appeared before them.
Standing atop a slope, clad once more in white, Xiao Yuan gazed at the towering black city walls. His eyes flickered with admiration.
True to its name, Black Emperor City lived up to the grandeur implied by the "Emperor" in its title. The vast walls stretched far into the distance, their cold black surfaces gleaming under the sunlight like polished obsidian.
Xiao Yuan could tell the walls were made of rare Black Mirror Stone—material capable of reflecting certain attacks. Using such rare stone to build an entire city wall revealed the deep wealth of the Black Emperor Sect. Even Xiao Yixian was mildly surprised.
"What extravagance," Xiao Yuan muttered.
He glanced around. The nearby crowds were thick with brutish-looking cultivators, all radiating fierce auras—likely also headed to the city. With so many volatile, short-tempered people gathered in one place, peace would be short-lived.
Chaos—that was the very essence of the Black-Corner Region. No matter how powerful a faction might be, they could never fully suppress the turmoil. In this lawless place, power was everything.
But to Xiao Yuan, chaos was good—it gave him the perfect opportunity to fish in troubled waters.
Beside him, Xiao Yixian's expression soured. Her violet-gray eyes swept the crowd, flashing with cold light. Those around them who had been sizing the pair up suddenly felt a chill pierce their hearts and quickly looked away.
Though both dressed in white, their auras were drastically different.
Xiao Yuan retained the elegant, regal air of a noblewoman—after all, with templates like Ya Fei and Yun Yun to draw from, she had mastered this kind of disguise.
Xiao Yixian, on the other hand, resembled a pristine flower. Her demeanor was graceful and quiet, though her cold gaze exuded killing intent. She might've inspired a desire to protect—if not for the murderous aura that clung to her like a second skin.
Still, both of them radiated allure. Even with veils concealing their faces, their figures and eyes alone left no doubt—they were extraordinary beauties.
As some lecherous stares finally recoiled, Xiao Yixian hummed coldly and withdrew her slender hand. Moments ago, a single gesture could've turned the road into a graveyard.
She moved with lotus-like grace, catching up to Xiao Yuan. Though she'd grown less aloof around him and his allies, her mercy didn't extend to strangers.
With her departure, the lingering chill on the road slowly dissipated. Staring after the two graceful figures, those nearby wiped cold sweat from their brows—glad they hadn't dared to act.
Then...
Swoosh!
Black ice mist appeared under their feet, freezing them where they stood.
"No need to be scared," came a voice soft and sultry, yet dripping with menace. "You all seemed rather heated—just thought I'd help cool you down."
Their blood, flesh, bones, and Dou Qi all froze solid. Xiao Yuan had held back—the ice would soon melt—but the pain would be unforgettable.
"See someone you don't like? Kill them. In the Black-Corner Region, there are no rules," Xiao Yuan said with a smile, linking arms with Xiao Yixian like a doting friend.
"Mm." Xiao Yixian replied with a sweet smile.
Descending the slope, they soon reached the city gates, where a massive line of shirtless, scarred men jostled for entry. The noise was overwhelming.
Xiao Yixian frowned. Her cleanliness habits didn't mix well with this rowdy crowd.
Sensing her discomfort, Xiao Yuan squinted and scanned the area.
"Heh, check out those two babes. Haven't seen that kind of quality in ages."
"Wonder how they scream in bed, hehe."
"Coward. I can already see it! Hahaha!"
Obscene laughter rang out as Xiao Yuan's gaze fell on a group of ten burly men gawking at them. The surrounding crowd chuckled knowingly—entertained by the spectacle.
"Tsk. I went too easy on the last group," Xiao Yuan muttered, shaking his head.
"Let's go. They're already dead," Xiao Yixian said with a wink, pulling him along.
Others noticed the two beauties weren't backing down, and some even stepped forward to intervene.
Then...
Splat!
The ten laughing men suddenly froze—and melted into pools of black sludge. The entire square fell silent.
Everyone stared at the scene in horror. Nobody said a word. They just backed far, far away.
Ignoring the stares, Xiao Yuan and Xiao Yixian walked straight toward a side entrance—one guarded by ten elite fighters, all exuding powerful Dou Qi. Ordinary folks avoided it entirely.
Seeing their path, many onlookers were stunned. That entrance was reserved for famous powerhouses. Were these young women… really Dou Huang-level?
The two halted before the gate. Suddenly, an old man in a yellow robe emerged with a gentle smile.
"Hehe… friends, this entrance is for Dou Huang only. If you don't meet the requirement, please use another gate."
"Really?" Xiao Yuan thought. This guy had been watching him the whole time.
Xiao Yuan gave the elder a blank look and walked right in.
The elder narrowed his eyes and tried to block them—but a bone-chilling cold froze his Dou Qi mid-channel.
"Don't move. I'd rather not destroy the Black Emperor Sect today," whispered a voice in his ear.
The elder stood paralyzed, blood freezing. When the chill finally faded, he trembled uncontrollably.
That pure ice Dou Qi… she must be at peak Dou Huang level!
After a long pause, he muttered, "You lot stay here. I'll report this to the sect master."
Emerging from the dark tunnel into the city, light poured in. The bustle returned with deafening intensity. Xiao Yuan and Xiao Yixian shielded their ears with Dou Qi to dampen the noise.
Before them lay a vast metropolis, its streets more crowded than the capital of the Jia Ma Empire. In some ways, this place even outclassed it—especially in rare resources.
"Where to first?" Xiao Yixian asked softly.
Xiao Yuan pondered. "Let's check out the big herbal stores. The Black-Corner Region is rich in rare ingredients. Maybe we'll find something useful. We also need intel on the Bodhi Essence—right now, I have no leads."
"Alright."
"Teacher," Xiao Yuan asked inwardly, "can you sense Xiao Yan?"
"Yes. Two streets over, in a medicinal shop," Yao Lao replied.
His soul strength was rapidly recovering, now strong enough to kill a one-star Dou Zun—though it would take some effort.
"Let's go meet my fourth brother," Xiao Yuan said, smiling at Xiao Yixian. "We'll get some intel from him while we're at it."
(END CHAPTER)
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