The Black-Corner Region, a chaotic land in the Northwest Continent, is home to a myriad of complex forces. Some gather into gangs, dominating a particular area, while others travel in groups, achieving fame and glory. Still others journey alone, struggling for survival.
This chaotic land has never had a true protagonist. The Black Ranking Ten Emperors of the current Black-Corner Region are the outstanding figures of the past few decades. Before them, many other powerhouses and factions had also risen in the Black-Corner Region.
The Demon Flame Valley is an established power in the Black-Corner Region, founded by the Old Ground Demon Ghost, a Dou Ancestor expert who achieved fame long ago. Its power is so immense that it dares to contend with the Jia Nan Academy.
The Black Emperor Sect governs Black Emperor City, one of the largest trading cities in the Black-Corner Region. The Black Emperor Sect boasts formidable strength, possessing numerous Dou Kings and Dou Emperors, and its Sect Master, Mo Tianxing, is even a Dou Ancestor expert.
Feng City is the base of Medicine Emperor Han Feng, the number one alchemist in the Black-Corner Region. It's also an extremely prosperous place in the Black-Corner Region, with countless experts wishing to enlist Medicine Emperor Han Feng to refine pills for them.
The Eight Gates of Black Mark City (In manhua it is called Black Seal City.), the Blood Sect of Dusk City, the Dark Sky Sect, the Wild Lion Gang, the Luo Sha Gate, the Ground Fire Sect... these new and old forces of the Black-Corner Region were all alarmed by a piece of news.
Just a few days ago, at an auction in Black Mark City, an ancient roll of flying Dou Skill appeared, reaching the high Xuan-tier.
This was not particularly unusual. Although a middle Xuan-tier flying Dou Skill is precious, this is the Black-Corner Region, where even Di-tier Dou Skills have appeared more than once.
However, this time, someone discovered that the sellers of this flying Dou Skill were the Yao Family Three Brothers, who had been struggling greatly in the Black-Corner Region. All three of them were Dou King experts, and by rights, they should have been doing quite well.
But when they first entered the Black-Corner Region, the three brothers didn't understand the rules and offended the Gold-Silver Twin Brothers, who were among the top ranks of the Black Ranking. Almost no faction was willing to take them in, and the three brothers' personalities also had some issues, so they were having a very hard time.
None of this was important. What was important was that when someone tried to "black-eat-black" them (an idiom for betrayal or robbery among criminals) and was instead counter-killed, a peculiar fire-attribute aura appeared on the Yao Family Three Brothers, linking it to the flying Dou Skill they had produced.
A rumor suddenly spread throughout the Black-Corner Region: the Yao Family Three Brothers had obtained a treasure, not only an ancient inheritance but also the refining method for the flying Dou Skill and a Heavenly Flame. The news of a Heavenly Flame undoubtedly caused the entire Black-Corner Region to boil over.
Heavenly Flames are an extremely rare and precious divine object in the world. They are incredibly valuable to fire-attribute experts, especially alchemists, as every alchemist dreams of possessing a Heavenly Flame.
Moreover, even if one is not an alchemist, a Heavenly Flame is still an exceptionally precious divine object of great value, capable of being exchanged for rare treasures. Even in the Central Plains, where experts are as numerous as clouds, Heavenly Flames are extremely rare treasures.
As soon as the news spread that the Yao Family Three Brothers possibly possessed a Heavenly Flame, almost all the involved forces in the Black-Corner Region immediately took action.
Medicine Emperor Han Feng personally emerged from seclusion, leading people to pursue them, and issued a command: he was willing to pay any price to obtain the Heavenly Flame.
Han Feng is the number one alchemist in the Black-Corner Region. His peak rank six alchemy skills allowed him to thrive in the Black-Corner Region. As an alchemist, it's very normal for him to desire a Heavenly Flame.
While Han Feng desired to obtain the Heavenly Flame, some other forces were also very interested in this treasure. The Black Emperor Sect, Demon Flame Valley, and other forces successively became involved for unknown reasons. Now, the entire Black-Corner Region seemed to show signs of chaos.
In a certain mountain forest outside Black Emperor City in the Black-Corner Region, the Yao Three Brothers, disguised to conceal their tracks, walked quickly along a mountain path. Their auras were only at the Dou Grandmaster level, and each had condensed a Dou Qi Armor for disguise.
"Heh heh, you three little dogs are quite clever!"
A sneer suddenly came from the sky. Two old men with similar appearances, wearing gold and silver robes respectively, appeared behind them. Their auras were much stronger than those of the three brothers. These two were the renowned Gold-Silver Twin Brothers from the Black Ranking.
"Gold-Silver Twin Brothers, you still found us."
The auras of the Yao Three Brothers were linked. As their Dou Qi circulated, light wings appeared behind each of them. United, the three of them could barely withstand the pressure of the Gold-Silver Twin Brothers' aura.
In the mountain forest, five people stood confronting each other in two camps. Although there were five faces, it was as if there were only two outlines. The Gold-Silver Twin Brothers were twin brothers, and the Yao Family Three Brothers were similar.
"Hahahaha..."
The five confronted each other, and the atmosphere grew tense. Suddenly, about ten figures with gloomy expressions slowly emerged from the forest. The fierce aura emanating from them made it clear.
These fellows were not simple. They carried a bloody aura, indicating that they were probably individuals who, for profit and money, could truly become ruthless and hardened.
The sudden appearance of the ten or so individuals made the Gold-Silver Twin Brothers frown slightly. They had come under the pretense of seeking revenge, so what were these new guys?
These dozen or so gloomy-faced figures seemed to be a small team, but their strength was considerable. The leading man, with slightly pale hair, judging by his aura, was a Dou King expert.
The rest of the group were clearly not weaklings either. In a chaotic place like the Black-Corner Region, although one had to be sharp-eyed in everything they did.
However, under the temptation of absolute profit, everything, even one's life, could be cast aside. And this was precisely the root cause of the Black-Corner Region's immense chaos.
"Three Elder Brothers Yao, you are now at your wits' end! Why don't you hand over the treasure?"
The slightly pale-haired Dou King shouted sternly, and his actions caused the Gold-Silver Twin Brothers' gazes to chill.
Human hearts are greedy. When it comes to treasures, everyone wants to claim them. The Yao Three Brothers were now virtually besieged in the Black-Corner Region, which naturally attracted countless pursuers.
The Gold-Silver Twin Brothers were smart. They used their past grievances as an excuse to cause trouble. In reality, their initial conflict with the Yao Three Brothers wasn't that big; otherwise, if the two brothers had constantly pursued them together, the Yao Family Three Brothers wouldn't have survived this long.
And now, some greedy and bolder individuals wanted to snatch food from the tiger's mouth, unable to endure the burning greed in their hearts, and were the first to make a move.
These dozen men, enveloped in fierce auras, were among them. As rising stars who had struggled in the Black-Corner Region for several years, they had gradually made a name for themselves over the years and had become somewhat arrogant.
They felt that since the Gold-Silver Twin Brothers hadn't managed to deal with the Yao brothers for so many years, the strength of these Black Ranking experts must be somewhat exaggerated, so they eagerly jumped out at this moment.
Although these dozen people were exceptionally greedy, they indeed possessed some skill. The group shifted their forms, strangely merging into the shadows of the forest, and then secretly formed a formation, encircling the Yao Three Brothers.
Many forces in the mountain forest halted their steps at this moment. Even the Gold-Silver Twin Brothers in the sky didn't act. They also wanted this group of clowns to test whether the Yao Family Three Brothers had any other trump cards.
A dozen figures suddenly shot out. They didn't make the slightest sound, yet the sharp weapons in their hands, gleaming with cold light, brought forth a strong killing intent, transforming into a sheet of blade aura, jointly attacking the Yao Family Three Brothers.
"A group of Dou Spirits and one Dou King, with this little strength, you dare to get involved? Are you not afraid of death?!"
The Yao Family Three Brothers simultaneously erupted with Dou Qi. With the tacit cooperation of the three Dou Kings, their strength directly approached that of a Dou Emperor. The strongest among these dozen or so individuals was barely a one-star Dou King. United, they couldn't even withstand a single move before being overwhelmed by the surging Dou Qi and dismembered.
The moment the Yao Three Brothers made their move, a series of piercing wind-breaking sounds suddenly erupted in this mountain forest. Countless arrows, imbued with astonishing force, shot out from dark corners, overwhelming everything.
Arrows rained down densely. The Yao Family Three Brothers simultaneously transformed their Dou Qi into wings and flew towards the sky.
"Heh heh, this path is blocked!"
The Gold-Silver Twin Brothers sealed off the direction of the sky, but they didn't engage the Yao Family Three Brothers in direct combat. As experts who had dominated the Black-Corner Region for many years, they understood the principle of a lion using its full strength even to hunt a rabbit.
In the current situation, the Yao Family Three Brothers were like trapped beasts, likely to fight to the death. Although their strength far surpassed that of the three brothers, there was no need for them to risk their lives for a small profit. They only needed to tightly entangle the three, and they wouldn't be able to escape.
"I didn't expect the three Elder Brothers Yao to possess such strength, no wonder you have such power. Gentlemen, Mo Ya of the Black Emperor Sect greets you."
A dozen figures slowly emerged, their auras extremely powerful, at least at the Dou King level. Among them, numerous strong individuals gathered around a young Dou King who spoke. Beside him, there was a person wearing an alchemist's robe, whose eyes glowed with fervor as he looked at Yao Da, one of the Yao Three Brothers.
"Young Sect Master, I can confirm that he definitely carries treasures related to a Heavenly Flame on him."
The alchemist affirmed with absolute certainty after scanning the three with his soul power. He was Qi Shan, the chief alchemist of the Black Emperor Sect. Being extremely close to becoming a rank six alchemist, he passionately desired to obtain a Heavenly Flame.
"Black Emperor Sect's Young Sect Master Mo Ya, our brothers have never offended the Black Emperor Sect!"
Yao Da frowned in response, but a hint of joy appeared in his eyes. The Black Emperor Sect had taken the bait, and it wouldn't be long before other forces couldn't hold back either!
The Gold-Silver Twin Brothers, seeing the duck that was about to fly away, naturally couldn't sit still. "Young Sect Master Mo, these Yao Three Brothers have deep grievances with our brothers. Your Black Emperor Sect is acting a bit out of line!"
Mo Ya's face showed a hint of coldness as he sneered, "Why do the two seniors need to be so pretentious? Everyone knows that the three Elder Brothers Yao only unintentionally offended you back then, yet you've been relentlessly pursuing them for so many years. That's truly excessive.
My Black Emperor Sect is willing to be a mediator. If the three Elder Brothers Yao are willing to join my Black Emperor Sect as guest elders, then the matters concerning them will be handled by our Black Emperor Sect."
Mo Ya spoke with conviction, and he even guaranteed it openly. The Yao Three Brothers would be lying if they said they weren't tempted. The Sect Master of the Black Emperor Sect, Mo Tianxing, was a genuine Dou Ancestor. With him stepping forward, the Gold-Silver Twin Brothers would not be a problem.
The Gold-Silver Twin Brothers indeed hesitated due to the Black Emperor Sect's strength. "Your Black Emperor Sect's actions are too ugly! Do you not care about your reputation anymore?!"
Mo Ya merely sneered, "Heh heh, reputation? Gold-Silver Twin Brothers, you don't need to threaten me. What can reputation do in this Black-Corner Region? The people of the Black-Corner Region don't fall for that."