"Check thoroughly, leave no one behind."
With a wave of his hand, Yan Qingshan stored the corpses of Fan Lao and his son into a Storage Ring. Then, he glanced at the remaining Blood Guards and whispered a command to Wang Mang. These Blood Guards were Fan Lao's Blood Sect elites, cultivated and brainwashed through special methods, truly loyal to him. They absolutely could not be left alive.
Wang Mang gave his subordinates a look, and then the Qingwang City elites pounced, completely eliminating the group of Blood Guards within half an hour.
Yan Qingshan, however, didn't wait for the Blood Guards to be wiped out. After instructing Wang Mang, he flew onto the back of the Gale Demon Wolf King. Then, surrounded by the Snow Demon Sky Ape, Tiger-Striped Exploding Bear, and other Tier 5 Magical Beasts, he rapidly advanced towards Mu Zhi City.
As the sun set in the west, Mu Zhi City, ever since the Blood Sect Master Fan Lao left with Alchemist Han in the early morning, developed a strange atmosphere. Following a thunderous explosion from the north of the Black-Corner Region that reverberated throughout the entire area, about two hours later, Mu Zhi City was ransacked by a mysterious entity. Another astonishing piece of news began to circulate within the city: Mu Zhi City's controller, Blood Sect Master Fan Lao, was finished.
This news came suddenly and strangely, but fueled by schemers, many still believed it. The entire Mu Zhi City quickly descended into a frenzy, with the City Lord's Mansion being the first to suffer.
Mu Zhi City had long been under the high-pressure rule of the Blood Sect. Fan Lao, the Blood Sect Master, was a harsh and inherently cruel and bloodthirsty man, and the Young Sect Master, Fan Ling, was even more arrogant and tyrannical.
Bullying men and women was merely a common triviality. In the Black-Corner Region, strength was paramount, and no powerful expert would voluntarily meddle in such "minor matters," because the main theme of the Black-Corner Region was chaos, and the Blood Sect, ranked fifth on the Black Ranking, was not weak in strength throughout the entire Black-Corner Region.
It was precisely under these circumstances that when the news of Fan Lao's death arrived, everyone rejoiced and became excited, unanimously choosing to attack the City Lord's Mansion.
The Blood Sect of Mu Zhi City was considered the most peculiar force in the Black-Corner Region. Other first-tier forces at least had a few Dou Kings garrisoned, but the Blood Sect did not; it only had Fan Lao, a Dou Emperor. It could be said that the rise and fall of the Blood Sect hinged on Fan Lao alone.
Once something happened to him, the entire Blood Sect would be finished. As for his unfortunate son, Fan Lao did try to cultivate him, but even now, he was barely at the Dou Ling cultivation level, having wasted a large amount of medicinal pills.
It was precisely because his son's cultivation and talent were so poor that Fan Lao did not recruit powerful experts like Dou Kings to his command, to prevent anyone from threatening his son's position in the future.
Of course, he couldn't recruit them either, because the Blood Sect had neither powerful unique techniques nor special resources. Aside from Fan Lao, this temperamental Dou Emperor, the Blood Sect essentially had few advantages.
Today, Mu Zhi City was exceptionally chaotic. When a streak of orange glow appeared in the sky, Mu Zhi City launched an unprecedented widespread battle. Some peripheral forces that had previously relied on the Blood Sect to barely gain a foothold in Mu Zhi City became the main instigators of this extermination of the Blood Sect.
On the surface, they looked glorious, but in reality, being a subordinate was the most hated position and the easiest to become a punching bag for Fan Lao and his son.
Now that Fan Lao was dead, they certainly no longer wished to submit to the Blood Sect. Inside the City Lord's Mansion were the Blood Sect's few remaining Blood Guards, who were barely holding out, preventing the City Lord's Mansion from completely falling. But judging by the current situation, it seemed they wouldn't last another two days.
Figures suddenly tore through the air from above. The fierce, bloody murderous aura immediately caused both warring sides to stop simultaneously. In several corners of Mu Zhi City's outer areas, Dou Kings who had rushed over from other places were cautiously probing whether the Blood Sect was truly finished.
Seeing this scene, they couldn't help but curse. These people had been busy for a long time, inciting crowds and having their confidants lead attacks on the Blood Sect, and now such a powerful force was preparing to "pluck the peach" (take credit).
But no Dou King dared to jump out. Someone who could bring so many Tier 5 Magical Beasts, and was himself a young Dou King expert, was certainly no ordinary person. This was not someone they could afford to offend.
"This Venerable is Qingwang, the Green King of Qingwang City. Fan Lao and his son are dead. This Mu Zhi City will henceforth belong to my Qingwang City."
Yan Qingshan's Storage Ring glowed, and two figures, embracing each other, slammed onto the ground. It was Fan Lao and his son, whom Yan Qingshan had "one-potted" (taken care of completely) when they tried to escape. Fan Ling's face still held terror, while Fan Lao's was filled with extreme hatred.
"Old Ghost Fan is dead! Little Demon Fan is dead! Hahahahaha, wife, little sister, do you see this?!"
"What a relief! Those two bastards finally got their retribution!"
"I've waited so many years, so many years!"
…
Outside the City Lord's Mansion, there were shouts everywhere. Inside the City Lord's Mansion, the Blood Guards were in a panic, their fighting spirit low. They had originally hoped that Young Sect Master Fan Ling would bring people back. Now he was back, but only as a cold corpse brought back by others.
"Kill these beasts who aided tyranny!"
Many people in the crowd besieging the City Lord's Mansion were agitated. Originally, many had their own agendas and didn't want to fight to the death, but now that they had the definitive news of the father and son's death, seeing their bodies hanging on the wall, they all seemed to have been injected with a stimulant.
The already outnumbered Blood Guards, their fighting spirit low, completely lost their previous will to resist and were utterly submerged in the maddened tide of people.
Blood flowed like rivers inside the City Lord's Mansion, with shouts of killing everywhere. The Blood Guards were torn to shreds by the crowd. Fan Lao and his son suffered the same fate. A generation's Dou Emperor expert met such an end, which was greatly related to his usual conduct.
"Appease the crowd, expel the foreign Dou Kings. I want a clean Mu Zhi City."
Yan Qingshan whispered to the arriving Wang Mang, then led the magical beasts towards another direction in the Black-Corner Region. This time, his swift and decisive action wouldn't just be for Mu Zhi City. Black Mark City and Demon Flame City were naturally also his targets, since their Dou Emperors were also "chilled" (dead)!
In Black Mark City, the Eight Gates Sect. Its Master, Yuan Yi, a Dou Emperor, left with Alchemist Han in the morning. Black Mark City remained as usual until about an hour later, when the Eight Gates Sect's Black Mark Auction House was ransacked by a Dou King descending from the sky. Because the newcomer was extremely powerful, the Dou Kings guarding the Eight Gates Sect were no match. Moreover, the opponent brought astonishing news: the Seven Emperors of the Black Ranking had joined forces, making the Black Emperor Sect and the Demon Flame Valley quite wary, and the two forces had allied to try and eliminate the Seven Emperors of the Black Ranking.
As soon as this news broke, Black Mark City showed signs of chaos. Many seized the opportunity to cause trouble, but Black Mark City was not Mu Zhi City, and the Eight Gates Sect was not the Blood Sect. Besides the two-star Dou Emperor Yuan Yi, Black Mark City still had several Dou King elders, who barely managed to maintain the situation.
After Black Mark City barely maintained stability, an Eight Gates Sect Dou King went to Feng City and met Han Beng and others.
These several plundered Black Ranking factions discussed and decided to explore the truth together towards the northern volcanic eruption area of the Black-Corner Region. They did find Han Feng and others, but the Eight Gates Sect and the Demon Flame Sect did not receive good news.
Their respective Sect Dou Emperors had died at the hands of the seven-star Dou Ancestor, Old Ground Demon Ghost, during conflicts with the Demon Flame Valley. This news was like a bolt from the blue.
When the news returned to Black Mark City, the entire Eight Gates Sect fell into a state of alarm. The several Dou King elders who had originally united to maintain stability secretly conspired. The Eight Gates Sect split into several small factions, with several powerful Dou Kings wanting to become the new Master of the Eight Gates Sect.
Unfortunately, they were destined not to get their wish. Powerful auras streaked across the sky, and terrifying giant beasts appeared above the Eight Gates Sect in Black Mark City. Countless people who witnessed this scene fled in terror from the Eight Gates Sect's location.
"Who are you?!"
A furious roar came from within the Eight Gates Sect, and immediately, five powerful auras rushed out. The Eight Gate Protectors of the Eight Gates Sect, the first five were all Dou King experts, and the remaining few also had unique skills, with great combat power and potential.
When the Eight Gates Sect Master Yuan Yi originally established the Eight Gate Protectors, he envisioned having eight great Dou Kings under his command, thus becoming a true hegemon of the Black-Corner Region. Unfortunately, until his death, this wish was never realized.
"This Venerable is Yan Qingshan, also the Green King of Qingwang City. This Black Mark City, my Qingwang City wants it."
Yan Qingshan stood on the back of the Gale Demon Wolf King, his robes flapping in the wind. Although he was alone, he exuded a powerful, domineering aura that seemed to look down on the world as if no one could compare. Although he spoke only a few words, it made the five great Dou Kings of the Eight Gates Sect feel immense pressure.
"Before coming to the Eight Gates Sect, I first went to Mu Zhi City and threw Fan Lao, who died by my hand, back into the City Lord's Mansion. Do you want to experience such treatment?"
Yan Qingshan's subsequent words filled the powerful experts of the Eight Gates Sect with terror. Fan Lao, the Master of the Blood Sect, had died at the hands of the person before them. They didn't think this was a joke, because the consequences of boasting casually in the Black-Corner Region were absolutely tragic. So, the Blood Sect Master Fan Lao was truly dead.
But this news was too shocking. Fan Lao, the Blood Sect Master, a powerful existence ranked fifth on the Black Ranking, a five-star Dou Emperor, a more formidable figure than their Master Yuan Yi, was actually dead now. It was truly hard to believe.
And now, the person who claimed to have killed Fan Lao had brought a group of magical beasts to blockade their Eight Gates Sect, openly demanding Black Mark City. What were they to do?
An elder of the Eight Gates Sect stepped forward, with a hint of threat in his words, "Your Excellency, although our Eight Gates Sect has lost its Master, Master Yuan died for Alchemist Han. Feng City will certainly not sit idly by if something happens to us. You should think twice."
"I am from the Jia Nan Academy. Do you think I would be afraid of Han Feng?"
Yan Qingshan glanced sideways, a blue light flashing in his eyes. As the elder froze in shock, his figure abruptly appeared before him, and the afterimage on the Gale Demon Wolf King's back slowly vanished.
This Dou King was easily grabbed by the neck and lifted by Yan Qingshan. The others, still in shock, began to panic. Yan Qingshan then spoke again, "Those who follow me can stay in Black Mark City. If you are unwilling, you may leave. You all decide for yourselves."
Yan Qingshan said, then threw down the Dou King. The Dou King, landing clumsily, did not immediately retaliate but considered for a moment before choosing to bow to Yan Qingshan. Three of Black Mark City's five great Dou Kings chose to stay, while the other two left with their subordinates.
This day was destined to be a memorable one. Three powerful figures from the Black Ranking Ten Emperors perished in a single day, and three major forces in the Black-Corner Region were annihilated. Qingwang City successfully took over the three cities, becoming the top force in the Black-Corner Region.