Fang Yang's spirit power surged around him, and dark flames instantly rose, crackling in the biting cold wind, instantly evaporating the falling snowflakes into mist.
A solid flame barrier appeared out of thin air, enveloping Gu Yue, Na'er, and Xu Xiaoyan, isolating them from the frigid cold outside.
"This is the entrance to the Dragon Valley," Gu Yue said calmly, yet with a hint of undeniable sadness.
Her gaze pierced through the swirling snow, as if searching for some distant memory.
"Mm."
Fang Yang nodded slightly, his gaze sweeping around.
The entire mountain range was covered in pristine white snow, and apart from the resilient snow pines, no other signs of life could be seen.
The cold wind howled, stirring up fine snow particles that swirled in the air, making a whimpering sound.
Xu Xiaoyan subconsciously leaned closer to Fang Yang: "But there's nothing but snow here…"
Her light blue twin ponytails swayed gently, and there was a touch of unease in her eyes.
"Open!"
Gu Yue suddenly let out a low cry, her eyes instantly turning a brilliant silver.
Centered on her, terrifying spatial power erupted, the surrounding air violently twisting, and even the falling snowflakes froze at that moment.
"Crack—"
The sky was instantly torn apart, and a huge black裂缝 appeared.
Seven-colored streams of light poured out from the裂缝, illuminating the entire snowy ground with a kaleidoscope of colors.
A faint Dragon roar came from the depths of the裂缝, an ancient and distant sound, as if a giant Dragon that had slept for eons was awakening.
The oppressive aura permeating the air caused the surrounding snow to tremble slightly.
"This… such terrifying energy." Xu Xiaoyan's face turned pale, and she instinctively held Fang Yang's hand.
Na'er gazed at the裂缝 in the sky, a complex glint flashing in her purple eyes as she softly murmured: "Dragon Valley…"
Fang Yang took a step forward, the flame barrier swaying slightly with his movement: "Alright, let's go."
As their figures disappeared into the seven-colored streams of light, the裂缝 in the sky began to slowly close.
Finally, it vanished, leaving only the swirling wind and snow, as if nothing had ever happened.
At the same time, a thousand miles away.
Deep within an unknown mountain range, a simple stone house stood quietly at the foot of a tall mountain.
Inside the stone house, an Elder who had been meditating with his eyes closed suddenly opened them. He was tall, but slightly hunched with age, clutching a dark wooden staff in his hand.
"Someone's here…" The Elder frowned deeply and quickly walked out of the stone house.
Several figures had already appeared before him. The leader had a feminine face, making it hard to distinguish his gender; it was Qiangu Zhangting.
Behind him followed over a dozen powerful Spirit Masters, each with an unfriendly glint in their eyes.
"Outsiders, stop! This path is closed!"
The Elder slammed his dark wooden staff heavily on the ground, and a surge of powerful spirit power erupted from him.
Circles of spirit rings then ascended.
Yellow, yellow, purple, purple, purple, black, black, black, black. Nine spirit rings proclaimed his strength as a Titled Douluo.
Qiangu Zhangting chuckled, his gender-neutral voice sounding: "Oh? Such a remote place."
"To actually hide a Titled Douluo? How surprising."
The Elder's gaze was like a torch, and he said in a deep voice: "This place is closed; please leave quickly."
Qiangu Zhangting, however, was unmoved, instead taking a step forward.
He looked at the Elder with interest: "Old man, what if I say no?"
The Elder slowly raised his dark wooden staff, his surrounding spirit power surging like waves: "Then don't blame this old man for being impolite."
A strange smile curled at the corner of Qiangu Zhangting's mouth. He lightly raised his hand, and the people behind him immediately assumed a battle stance.
Just then, another group of people galloped from the other side.
The leader wore a mask and a black outfit. He quickly walked to the Elder and bowed respectfully: "Elder Wu."
Elder Wu nodded slightly, his gaze still fixed on Qiangu Zhangting: "There are outsiders."
As a Tang Sect Elder, Wu Yong was ordered by the Tang Sect Leader to guard the Dragon Valley Small World here.
This was a Secret Realm for Tang Sect Disciples to train, and outsiders were not allowed to trespass.
Hei Yi (Black One) heard this, turned to face Qiangu Zhangting and his group, and said in a stern voice: "Who are you people? How dare you cause trouble on our Tang Sect's territory?"
"Oh? Tang Sect?"
A strange smile curled at the corner of Qiangu Zhangting's mouth, "Spirit Transfer Pagoda, Qiangu Zhangting!"
The entire scene fell into silence, with only the sound of the wind howling past.
Wu Yong's expression was solemn, and his hand gripping the dark wooden staff unconsciously tightened. He had never expected that the person who came would be the Young Lord of the Spirit Transfer Pagoda.
The Spirit Transfer Pagoda was a powerful force, and the Qian Gu Family had deep foundations. Although Qiangu Zhangting was young, he was a Saint-Grade Spirit Saint, a strength not to be underestimated.
"The Spirit Transfer Pagoda and the Tang Sect have always kept to themselves. May I ask what brings Young Lord Qiangu here today?" Wu Yong asked in a deep voice, his surrounding spirit power secretly circulating.
Qiangu Zhangting gently stroked the jade fan in his hand, and smiled effeminately: "I heard that there is something the Spirit Transfer Pagoda needs in the Dragon Valley Secret Realm, so I've come to retrieve it. I hope the Tang Sect can be accommodating."
Hei Yi (Black One) glared angrily: "The Dragon Valley is a Tang Sect Forbidden Land; how can you just enter as you please?"
A Spirit Master behind Qiangu Zhangting snorted coldly: "A mere Tang Sect, daring to block the Spirit Transfer Pagoda's path?"
"Presumptuous!"
Hei Yi (Black One)'s body swelled, and seven spirit rings instantly bloomed.
The Tang Sect Disciples behind him also released their spirit rings, and for a moment, various colors of light shone.
Qiangu Zhangting, however, unhurriedly played with his jade fan: "Elder Wu, you should be very clear."
"With your current strength, you can't stop us at all, so why make a futile resistance?"
Wu Yong slowly raised his dark wooden staff, and the nine spirit rings shone brightly, the Titled Douluo's pressure sweeping across the entire scene: "This old man is ordered to guard this place, and even if I have to risk my old life, I will never let you step into the Dragon Valley!"
A cold glint flashed in Qiangu Zhangting's eyes, and he lightly closed his jade fan: "Since that's the case, then don't blame me for being impolite."
The more than ten Spirit Masters behind him simultaneously released their spirit rings, the lowest being Titled Douluo level, and there were even three Super Douluo powerhouses.
Just as the two sides were in a standoff, a black spatial裂缝 suddenly appeared in the sky.
Although it was fleeting, the unique spatial fluctuations shocked all the powerhouses present.
Wu Yong's face changed drastically, his voice filled with incredible astonishment, "Oh no, someone has entered the Dragon Valley!"
"What?!"
The Tang Sect members exclaimed in unison, all looking up at the sky.
The Spirit Transfer Pagoda members also showed surprise. Qiangu Zhangting's jade fan slammed shut, and a cold light flickered in his eyes: "Seeking death, someone actually dared to go first?"
Wu Yong was secretly shocked. To be able to open the Dragon Valley entrance without his knowledge, the newcomer must be a top powerhouse who had mastered spatial power.
"Elder Wu, what do we do now?" Hei Yi (Black One) asked anxiously.
Wu Yong's eyes flickered. After a moment of contemplation, he looked at Qiangu Zhangting: "Young Master Qiangu, I can let you in, on the condition that you help us deal with the outsiders."
"Elder Wu, no…" Hei Yi (Black One) quickly tried to dissuade him.
Wu Yong said in a deep voice: "Hei Yi (Black One), after this is over, I will personally explain to the Sect Leader."
"Yes."
Hei Yi (Black One) reluctantly responded.
Qiangu Zhangting narrowed his eyes slightly, seemingly weighing the pros and cons.
At this moment, an Elder behind him quietly transmitted a message: "Young Master, you can agree. Getting into the Dragon Valley is the priority."
A glint flashed in Qiangu Zhangting's eyes, and then he smiled brightly: "Alright, Elder Wu is straightforward, and I agree."
"Since that's the case, then please." Wu Yong waved his dark wooden staff, signaling the Tang Sect Disciples to clear the way.
Thus, the two forces, originally at daggers drawn, temporarily formed a delicate alliance due to the sudden turn of events.
Led by Wu Yong, the group ascended the steep mountain path.
ps: Dragon Valley entrance, for the convenience of fanfiction!
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