Black-Corner Region, Feng City.
In just three days, the entire Feng City had undergone a massive transformation. It had now become the base of the Black Alliance, a new force in the Black-Corner Region, and today, many Black Alliance factions had gathered here for a meeting.
Since the great battle in the northern volcanic area of the Black-Corner Region three days ago, Han Feng, to counter the Demon Flame Valley's possible retaliation, gathered the forces that had competed for the Heavenly Flame with him that day to form the Black Alliance. He also invited Old Ying Shan, who was injured by the Old Ground Demon Flame, to serve as the Alliance Head.
(Note: Old Ying Shan change to Ying Shan)
The solitary Old Ying Shan held little real power. The true leader of the Black Alliance was still Han Feng, its chief alchemist and venerable. Of course, Old Ying Shan didn't mind this arrangement, as it was precisely the agreement he had made with Han Feng. He wasn't the type to manage people or run a force; otherwise, with his Dou Ancestor cultivation, developing a force wouldn't be difficult.
Feng City was originally a small city, but it held great renown in the Black-Corner Region. Now, Feng City had changed even more drastically.
In the vast central area of the city, a magnificent manor stood tall. Han Feng's original manor was now the meeting place for the Black Alliance's powerful experts.
In a very spacious hall within the Black Alliance's meeting manor, many figures sat. At the highest position sat an old man with gray hair and an aquiline nose. This was Old Ying Shan, a former Black Ranking expert of the Black-Corner Region.
He was among the top three on the Black Ranking as a lone cultivator, a rare display of strength. When he went into seclusion and disappeared from the Black-Corner Region, he was already at the peak Dou Emperor realm. Now, he had become a three-star Dou Ancestor, no weaker than Mo Tianxing.
Earlier, when the great battle erupted in the northern Black-Corner Region, Old Ying Shan received news that the Demon Flame Valley was empty, and there was a detailed map of its treasury. Seeking wealth in danger, Old Ying Shan risked infiltrating the Demon Flame Valley.
However, soon after he successfully opened the treasury, the Old Ground Demon Flame returned to the Demon Flame Valley and trapped him within the obsidian-built treasury. Their fierce battle severely damaged the treasury, and Old Ying Shan escaped with injuries.
After that, he was found by people sent by Han Feng. By his nature, he wouldn't join any force, but having offended the Demon Flame Valley earlier, he joined the Black Alliance to protect himself against the Demon Flame Valley.
Currently, the Black Alliance boasts Han Feng, the chief alchemist of the Black-Corner Region ranked third on the Black Ranking, the Gold and Silver Twin Brothers, who are the top figures on the Black Ranking, and Old Ying Shan, a three-star Dou Ancestor.
The first two even have the confidence to contend with a Dou Ancestor. With these individuals united, even if the Old Ground Demon Flame personally arrived, they wouldn't fear him.
Han Feng further utilized his fame, vigorously recruiting many powerful experts from the Black-Corner Region to form the Black Alliance. Now, the Black Alliance, in terms of sheer power, surpasses even the Demon Flame Valley and the Black Emperor Sect.
Even the Jia Nan Academy, if it doesn't unleash its full hidden power, might not be a match for the Black Alliance.
In the meeting hall, Old Ying Shan sat at the head. To his right were Han Feng and the Gold and Silver Twin Brothers. To his left were the many elders of the Black Alliance and the leaders of various forces participating in the Black Alliance, all with at least Dou King cultivation.
Any one of these force leaders was a powerful figure whose stomp could shake the entire Black-Corner Region. However, in this setting, even these strong individuals could only sit in the lower seats.
The atmosphere in the meeting hall was slightly oppressive, and this oppressive feeling entirely stemmed from Han Feng, who sat to the right with a somewhat grim expression.
"Everyone, I presume you've heard some news in the past two days."
Han Feng's gaze slowly swept across the faces of everyone in the hall. Han Feng said faintly, "Mu Zhi City has been occupied, and the Blood Sect has been annihilated. The Demon Flame Valley and the Eight Gates Sect have been driven out of their two major cities. Now, this suddenly emerging Qingwang City has become quite powerful."
"Qingwang City!"
There was a slight stir in the hall. Even though those present were extraordinary individuals, upon hearing "Qingwang City," they couldn't help but be moved. A force capable of consecutively seizing three first-tier cities in the Black-Corner Region commanded respect from everyone.
"Sect Master Fan of the Blood Sect was originally preparing to join our Black Alliance. Unfortunately, he was ambushed by the Green King of Qingwang City and died on the spot."
Han Feng lightly tapped the back of his chair, his words like a bombshell, stunning everyone in the hall. Although they had received some news in the past two days, no one dared to confirm how Fan Lao had died.
Now, Han Feng's words undoubtedly declared Fan Lao's ultimate fate: death by ambush by the Green King of Qingwang City. This meant that this newly risen Green King had actually personally slain Fan Lao, a five-star Dou Emperor. Even if Fan Lao was not in prime condition at the time, this news was absolutely explosive.
"Fan Lao's strength, even across the entire Black-Corner Region, was considerable. Although he lost an arm because of the Old Ground Demon Flame, an ordinary Dou Emperor would never have been his match."
Han Feng frowned slightly and said, "What's the background of this Green King of Qingwang City? Do any of you have confirmed information? Please speak freely."
Everyone in the hall exchanged glances, all frowning slightly. Feng City was already considered a strong force in the Black-Corner Region, but Han Feng's meaning was that he hadn't gathered much intelligence about the Green King. Most of those present would know even less.
"Cough, cough. This matter, this old man has paid some attention to."
After a moment of silence, an old man in gray robes with a slightly sinister face coughed and spoke. To hold a place in a chaotic region like the Black-Corner Region, one needed not only necessary ruthlessness but also essential intelligence.
This gray-robed elder was Elder Ban, currently ranked fourth on the Black Ranking, a seven-star Dou Emperor. His force was not weak in the Black-Corner Region and had been operating for many years, possessing many informants throughout the region. In terms of intelligence, he was naturally better than Han Feng.
"Some information this old man has gathered is that this Green King of Qingwang City is indeed no ordinary individual."
Elder Ban coughed dryly before slowly continuing, "As is well known, the rise of Qingwang City was sudden. About half a year ago, someone suddenly appeared in the Black-Corner Region with a large batch of low to mid-grade medicinal pills to recruit people, and quickly established a foothold.
This person is Wang Mang, the current City Master of Qingwang City. Wang Mang was the previous number one on the Strong Ranking of the Jia Nan Inner Academy, graduating as a Dou King. Because of the continuous conflicts between two Dou Ancestor in his home Tianyun Empire, he did not return to Tianyun but chose to stay in the Black-Corner Region to develop.
Wang Mang's large batch of medicinal pills undoubtedly came from the Jia Nan Academy, but the old fellows of the Jia Nan Academy wouldn't have such courage with such a vast medicinal pill fortune.
This leads to another person, the current number one on the Strong Ranking of the Jia Nan Inner Academy, Green King Yan Qingshan. This Yan Qingshan comes from the Jia Ma Empire, his family background is unknown; there doesn't seem to be a famous Yan family in the Jia Ma Empire.
After Yan Qingshan entered the Jia Nan Academy, in just half a year, he entered the Inner Academy as the strongest rookie king of that year. And half a year after he entered the Inner Academy, he defeated Mu Yun, who was then second on the Strong Ranking and a Dou King, to reach the top, while still only a Dou Spirit.
With Wang Mang's graduation, he also naturally became the number one on the Strong Ranking of the Jia Nan Inner Academy and gained the attention of many old fellows from the Jia Nan Academy.
They gathered almost all the alchemy students of the Jia Nan Academy to refine medicinal pills. Such a feat is rare. And according to this old man's investigation, the medicinal ingredients they used to refine the pills came from a newly appeared mysterious force in the Magical Beast Mountain Range, the Beast King Valley."
"Beast King Valley!"
Many powerful experts around frowned upon hearing of this force. The Beast King Valley had only recently appeared, but it had developed extremely rapidly. Or rather, many of its members had already been renowned in the Black-Corner Region, but it was only recently that someone gathered them.
In the Magical Beast Mountain Range of the Black-Corner Region, there are countless, uncountable magical beasts in the endless forest. There are hundreds of magical beasts above Tier 5, and quite a few Tier 6 magical beasts.
In such a vast forest, many magical beasts were originally scattered. Although individually powerful, they weren't much of a threat. But just over half a year ago, starting at an unknown time, magical beasts began to connect, and a force named the Beast King Valley appeared.
"The Beast King Valley collects medicinal ingredients, the Jia Nan Academy is responsible for refining, and Qingwang City is the distribution point. In the end, all three parties benefit. Such a person is not to be underestimated!"
Han Feng frowned, and the other force leaders below also pondered in silence. Most of those present had already established their own foundations, and after the tripartite relationship of the Beast King Valley, Jia Nan Academy, and Qingwang City was laid out, they all thought more deeply.
"Alliance Head, Chief Venerable, should we take action regarding Qingwang City's expansion?"
After Elder Ban finished introducing the intelligence, he spoke again. Qingwang City's expansion had foiled some of his original plans. He had been preparing to annex the neighboring Demon Flame Valley but now had no prospect, which annoyed him somewhat.
"Look at the locations of these cities; this Yan Qingshan is truly not a simple individual!"
After pondering, Han Feng suddenly unfurled a map. Three faint blue Dou Qi points appeared on the map. "His four cities are precisely sandwiched between us, the Demon Flame Valley, and the Black Emperor Sect.
His actions were not arbitrary but a result of careful consideration. If he were just trying to expand territory, the best choices would have been Tian Lang City, Xuan Gate City, and other cities closer to Qingwang City. But he chose Demon Flame City, Mu Zhi City, and Black Mark City. The locations of these three cities are perfect; he's actively serving as a buffer!"
One by one, the force leaders looked at the blue dots marked on the map, and each had a sudden realization.
Han Feng stared at the map and said in a deep voice, "Issue an order: do not conflict with Qingwang City. They want to act as a buffer, and we also need a buffer. We don't trust the Black Emperor Sect either, and now is not the time for a decisive battle with the Demon Flame Valley."
While Feng City was discussing Qingwang City's expansion, the other two major forces, the Black Emperor Sect and the Demon Flame Valley, were not idle. Like Han Feng, after observing the map, they did not act rashly but tacitly allowed Qingwang City's actions.
Yan Qingshan's expansion this time was not to take advantage of someone's misfortune or for greedy territorial gain but a well-thought-out action. With the three major forces at war, the Black-Corner Region would undoubtedly have a different dynamic afterward. If he didn't expand now, there would only be endless trouble later.
And how Qingwang City expanded was another key point. Qingwang City was backed by the Jia Nan Academy, which could be said to be another transcendental existence outside the three main forces. They didn't need to take sides, only seeking self-preservation.
Furthermore, by acting as a buffer, before the overall situation in the Black-Corner Region became clear, they were definitely the safest.