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**
Time passed quietly in the monotonous flight.
After nearly two months of long travel, Wei Yang and the others were finally drawing closer to their destination.
According to the map's guidance, they would soon reach the border of the Jia Ma Empire.
After another stretch of flying, just as they passed over a towering mountain range, a vast fortress began to appear faintly on the distant horizon.
The fortress was built against the mountain, resembling a ferocious tiger lying in wait, guarding the only passage that led in and out of the empire. Anyone wishing to enter or leave Jia Ma Empire had no choice but to pass through this imposing stronghold.
This heavily fortified military outpost had devoured countless souls on the battlefield over the years. Because of that, even neighboring empires held it in deep awe and fear.
Its name, fierce and ominous, matched its reputation: Zhen Gui Pass—Ghost-Suppressing Gate.
When everyone's gaze swept across the outline of the massive fortress in the far distance, their expressions sharpened slightly.
Even Xiao Yan, who had been sitting cross-legged with his eyes closed, slowly opened them. The faint smile on his face began to stiffen bit by bit.
Standing atop the massive head of the Tiger Eagle Beast, he stared ahead at the fortress, which even from afar still emitted a faint killing aura.
After a moment, a mysterious smile curled the corners of his lips—one that quickly widened.
Then, a thunderous roar that had been suppressed for nearly three years suddenly burst from his mouth and echoed through the skies:
"Jia Ma Empire—I, Xiao Yan, have returned once more~!"
His laughter rolled across the sky like rumbling thunder. Fortunately, this area was usually sparsely populated—otherwise, the commotion would surely have attracted unwanted attention.
Wei Yang also slowly stood up, his gaze fixed on the looming fortress growing larger in their vision. A trace of emotion flickered in his eyes.
Although the Jia Ma Empire was a remote and somewhat insignificant corner of the continent, he couldn't deny that it held a unique and irreplaceable place in his heart.
After all, this was the land where he had grown from weak to strong. It could be considered his second home.
"So this is the Jia Ma Empire?" Lin Yan and the others stepped forward curiously, their gazes fixed on the distant fortress as they asked.
"Mhm, this is a border fortress of the Jia Ma Empire—Zhen Gui Pass. Once we pass through it, we'll officially be inside the empire's borders."
Xiao Li nodded and said softly, "Back then, I was like a stray dog—secretly protected as I fled in desperation through this very pass, heading alone to the Black-Corner Region to search for my third brother… At that time, I never imagined I'd return so soon—let alone with such powerful allies at my side."
"Brother Xiao Li, all your suffering, and the blood debt of your Xiao Clan—we'll make sure the Yun Lan Sect pays it back in full," Wei Yang said, patting Xiao Li's shoulder.
"That's right. We came here for exactly that reason—to avenge you and your Xiao Clan," Lin Yan and the others echoed with smiles.
"Thank you," both Xiao Yan and Xiao Li cupped their fists gratefully toward the group.
"Everyone—let's pick up the pace!" Xiao Yan waved his hand. His tone, at this moment, carried a trace of uncontainable urgency.
Screeech—!
A chorus of savage beastly roars echoed through the sky.
Over a dozen flying magic beasts flapped their thick wings, stirring up violent gusts as they accelerated toward the distant fortress.
Although the distance still looked far, under the straight-line flight of the flying magic beasts, it was closed in mere ten-odd minutes.
As they gradually approached the massive fortress, Wei Yang suddenly raised his hand. Immediately, all the flying beasts in the sky came to a neat and abrupt halt.
Everyone turned their eyes toward Wei Yang, who stood atop the lead flying beast, puzzled by his sudden action.
"Brother Wei, what's the matter?" Xiao Yan turned his head and asked.
"Something feels off," Wei Yang replied, his gaze scanning downward.
The others also lowered their heads and looked below.
At this point, they were at least a thousand meters above the ground.
From this height, anyone looking up from the fortress would only be able to see faint black dots at most. But with the eyesight of those in Wei Yang's group, they could clearly observe all the activity below.
Yet at this moment, the massive Zhen Gui Pass beneath them appeared eerily quiet.
A faint air of unease seemed to linger over the entire place.
Their eyes first swept over the large, dark-red characters carved above the fortress gates, then toward the top of the fortress walls.
There, lines of soldiers in black armor stood in neat formations, but Wei Yang and the others could keenly detect that—despite their ironclad appearance—this steel-like legion gave off a subtle sense of unease and disarray.
Looking deeper into the city, the vast interior of the fortress was also abnormal—dead silent, unlike its usual bustle.
A heavy, stifling atmosphere hovered above the entire stronghold.
"Something's definitely wrong. Zhen Gui Pass is far too quiet today," Xiao Li muttered, frowning. "As far as I know, this is the largest military pass for hundreds of kilometers. Normally, it's flooded with people coming and going. Even at night it's noisy as hell… but now..."
"Could it be that our arrival was detected ahead of time, and the fortress was locked down?" Lin Xiuya leaned forward and looked down, raising the question.
"How is that possible? We came all the way from the Black-Corner Region at high speed. The two regions are so far apart—there's no way the Jia Ma Empire could've gotten word this quickly," Xiao Yan shook his head and replied.
"There are signs of a battle in the city. Judging from the traces, it happened two or three days ago. Even now, there's still a faint smell of blood in the air," Wei Yang narrowed his eyes slightly and said. "Also, there are quite a few strong auras currently gathered in one place."
As he spoke, he raised his hand and pointed toward the center of the city—where a massive building loomed in the distance.
"Right there. That should be the City Lord's Mansion."
Hearing this, Xiao Yan's eyes flashed with a hint of surprise. He then slowly closed them, and a surge of powerful soul perception swept out from between his brows like a tide, flooding downward toward the fortress below.
After a brief moment, he opened his eyes again. His gaze locked onto that large building at the fortress's core, and a subtle smile tugged at the corners of his lips.
"You're right," he said softly. "There was a major battle here not long ago. But it doesn't seem to have been caused by foreign invaders—it's more like there was internal unrest... And what a surprise—we've just returned to the Jia Ma Empire, and we've already run into members of the Yun Lan Sect."
"Yun Lan Sect?" Xiao Li's expression stiffened, then a cold glint flashed in his eyes.
What a case of enemies crossing paths.
"Let's go down and take a look," Wei Yang said calmly.
With that, he stepped forward—and in a blink, his figure vanished.
"Let's move!" Xiao Yan smiled and waved his hand.
At his command, the Tiger Eagle Beast beat its thick wings and dove toward the fortress below with a loud howl.
Behind them, over a dozen flying magic beasts followed closely, streaking through the air like a thunderstorm descending upon Zhen Gui Pass.
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