The vast plain stretched out endlessly, its uniform black expanse contrasting with the slightly dim sky, creating an oppressive and restlessly uncomfortable atmosphere. It was no wonder, in such an unusual place, that chaotic rules had taken root. On this quiet plain, a dark figure suddenly shot forth from afar, moving with extraordinary speed—its swift movements resembling teleportation. Yet each time it landed, it sent out a thunderous boom, rippling outward in concentric waves that spread across the plain before gradually fading into the distance. As it ran at full speed, the figure paused briefly, lifting its head slightly to reveal a fresh, youthful face. It was Xiao Yan, having journeyed from afar, weary and dusty. He now frowned, gazing at the open plain, murmuring softly, "This damned place is so stifling. But why, after so long entering the plain, have I not seen a single figure?" "Keep going. I suspect Sea-Wave Dong hasn't been here either, so his map doesn't have an exact route to the Black Domain Plain. For now, we'll have to enter through some small towns within the plain and then purchase a fresh map here." The Elder of the Herbs also expressed some uncertainty, as he wasn't particularly familiar with this place—having only heard secondhand. "Hm." Nodding with a sigh, Xiao Yan had no choice but to keep pressing forward. "By the way, young one, just one more reminder: in this 'Black Corner Domain,' don't show too much mercy. Here, mercy is nothing but something tossed into a stinking gutter—useless, in fact, and it often drags you down into the mud." The Elder suddenly added a reminder. "The most effective method here is to kill a chicken to warn the monkeys." Xiao Yan smiled faintly. "Master, I'm not some indiscriminate good-hearted person, nor a saint who embodies compassion. The great deeds of saving the world from suffering haven't come my way yet. All I wish for is to grow strong myself, and protect those people I'm responsible for. The rest—I simply don't have the heart or the qualification to care about." "This is precisely the best mindset for survival in Black Angle Domain," said the herbalist, smiling and exhaling a sense of relief. He too hoped his student wouldn't be a saint overly gentle and tender, because he knew such people rarely lived long. Rather than becoming a short-lived saint, he preferred Xiao Yan to be a pragmatic, resolute leader—someone willing to be ruthless and uncompromising in order to protect those he deemed worthy. Exhaling gently, Xiao Yan once again lowered his head and charged forward. After nearly half an hour of continuous movement, a small black dot gradually emerged within his line of sight. As he drew closer, the dot expanded, and scattered white tents began to appear in his vision—revealing a small settlement. He breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing the murmurs of voices drifting from the tents. With a light tap of his foot on the ground, his figure became a streak of shadow, swiftly racing toward the small village. After nearly two or three minutes of swift movement, the entire village came into full view. Xiao Yan then slowed his pace and walked steadily toward the main entrance. Up close, he scanned the surroundings and found the settlement to be quite sizable, with a continuous row of large and small tents numbering at least a hundred. The lively sounds of activity within suggested that the population was quite active. Approaching the tribal gate slowly, Xiao Yan's face suddenly tightened, and he stepped back abruptly. A long arrow suddenly pierced the air, driving straight into the grass before him, its continuously swaying tail clearly indicating that the archer had no intention of sparing anyone. After narrowly avoiding the arrow, a low, surprised sound echoed from the distant tribal fence. "I was merely passing through and only wished to resupply," Xiao Yan coldly glanced at a spot on the fence, his voice sharp. "What is your meaning?" "Hmph. Are you really a newcomer just arriving in the Black Angle Domain? Do you not know that before entering the settlement, one must offer supplies at a distance of one hundred meters?" A figure leapt onto the fence. Initially startled by Xiao Yan's question, he then seemed to grasp its significance, his brow lifting slightly, while a strange expression flashed swiftly across his eyes. Xiao Yan frowned. Supply at a distance? "Five hundred gold coins—hurry up, don't dawdle! Don't make me waste my time. Don't tell me you can't even pay for the road supplies!" Seeing Xiang Yan hesitate, the man's expression grew more puzzled, and his voice softened slightly as he urged, "Now, that's quite an odd rule." With a deep breath of relief, Xiang Yan flipped his hand, and a bag of gold coins appeared in his grasp. He tossed it toward the man, who quickly caught it and carefully counted the coins before finally waving his hand and dryly commanding, "Open the door." The sound of that command caused the old, weathered wooden door of the settlement to creak and swing open, revealing the streets inside and the flow of people. "Come in, rookie," the thin man smiled, stretching his lips. Frowning slightly, it indeed turned out as the old doctor had said—the Black Horn Domain had few ordinary people. Gently grasping the ruler handle at his shoulder, he added a measure of caution to his mind and slowly walked toward the main gate, stepping inside. The clunky honking of the car horns echoed from behind. Xiao Yan turned around to see the slender man who had previously shot the arrows now holding his bow, the sharp arrow aimed directly at him. "Hand over everything you've got—money, weapons, or anything else! If I'm in a good mood, I might just leave you with one arm as compensation for this little mishap," the slender man grinned. "No wonder you're from Black Angular Region... though sadly, no matter how hard these grasshoppers jump, they'll always remain just grasshoppers." Xiao Yan glanced around the street. People on the street had noticed the commotion, yet none stepped forward to support him. On the contrary, they all stood with arms folded, their faces filled with amusement, as though watching a play unfold. "Young fellow, now that you've experienced it firsthand, you finally understand—what that person said is correct. In the Black Corner Domain, never let anyone see your true origins or background. Here, there are no real heroes—so don't expect the onlookers to step in and help you. If they don't come after you with their knives and cut you down, that's already quite normal." The voice of the Elder Pharmacist resonated within Xiao Yan's mind. Xiao Yan nodded slightly, his hands slowly grasping the handle of the Xuan Zhong Chi. Observing Xiao Yan's gesture, the three figures standing in front of him immediately grew pale, saying nothing, and with swift, decisive movements, drove their sharp blades straight into his neck—demonstrating remarkable ruthlessness. "Thud. Thud. Thud..." As the blades still hadn't reached their target, a dark figure suddenly darted past, and the three figures' pale faces instantly turned ashen. Their bodies were struck like by a massive hammer, sending them crashing backward into the tent behind, their blood staining the white fabric of the tent vividly. "You brute!" In the span of a flash, three of his companions were severely wounded. The slender man in the midst flashed a look of both fear and determination, his bowstring barely loosened when suddenly a shadow materialized behind him. A cold, measured voice murmured, "Next time, before you act, make sure you clearly understand the gap between the two parties. But I suspect there may not be a next time after all..." "Plugh!" As the words fell, the black staff crashed heavily against the man's back, and instantly, a gush of blood, mingled with the fragments of organs violently displaced by the force, erupted from his mouth. Staring calmly at the figure now collapsing to the ground, Xiao Yan turned, inserted the Xu Zhong Chi firmly into the man's back, and then walked steadily along the street. As he approached, the crowd who had previously been full of amusement grew momentarily still—then quickly composed themselves, allowing the figure, now streaked with blood, to glide past them silently. As the crowd resumed its lively chatter once Xiao Yan had slowly faded into the corner of the street, they smiled at the body lying sprawled at the entrance, showing little pity, merely marveling, "Hey, this young man is quite ruthless—decisive in his actions, never hesitating when it came to killing. Real manly. It seems he'll thrive in Black Thorns Domain. " Xiao Yan, naturally, had no idea that his sharp and unyielding methods had earned him such high praise—indeed, the flattery spoken by Yao Lao must have been well-founded. After thoroughly searching every street in this not particularly long network, Xiao Yan found himself disappointed to discover that the small settlement had no maps for sale. Frowning slightly, as he prepared to ask someone for a general route, a slightly plump figure suddenly appeared before him, smiling warmly. "Sir, are you looking for a map? I noticed you walking over here asking questions all the way." Before Xiao Yan furrowed his brow, the plump man smiled and said, "You have?" Xiao Yan glanced sideways at the stranger, his tone calm. "As a merchant traveling across the Black Domain Plain, I naturally carry the most detailed maps." The plump man chuckled. "How much?" Xiao Yan's voice remained steady—after all, in the Black Corner Domain, there were no free lunches. "Honestly, let me tell you, sir—on the Black Domain Plain, even if you possess a map, it's hard to reach your destination accurately, since black storms often rise suddenly, blotting out the sky. During such storms, maps become useless. Only those with seasoned experience can navigate through them successfully. I assume, sir, being a newcomer, you haven't yet gained such experience, have you?" The plump man shook his head and smiled, saying, "I won't beat around the bush. When I first saw you at the tribal gate, I was impressed by your strength, which is why I wanted to hire you as a guard for my trading caravan. If your destination is to cross the Black Storm Plain and enter the Inner Black Corner Region, then you could indeed join me. However, as compensation for helping you emerge from the Plain, you'll need to lend a hand whenever our caravan faces difficulties—how does that sound?" Upon hearing this, Xiao Yan furrowed his brows and asked cautiously in his mind, "Master, is that truly what he said?" "Hmm... The Black Storm Plain is indeed renowned for its black storms. Less experienced travelers often get lost. I recall a rather unfortunate fellow who, while making his way through the storms, ended up circling the entire plain for half its circumference and eventually died from exhaustion." The herbalist hesitated, then added, "Traveling with an experienced caravan through the Black Storm Plain does indeed eliminate many of the complications." "Hehe, our caravan's destination is Blackmark Domain's internal city of Blackmark City, where an annual auction will take place tomorrow. So I need to strengthen our guard and make the most of the time to get there—otherwise, I wouldn't have chosen someone I didn't know." The plump man smiled, explaining his somewhat hasty decision. "An auction?" Hearing the name, Xiao Yan's mind stirred slightly. In Blackmark Domain, the most captivating things were always the astonishing rarities, and each auction drew countless eager participants. After a moment's further reflection, Xiao Yan nodded without hesitation. "Good cooperation—call me Doma." Seeing Xiao Yan nod, the plump man immediately relaxed, smiling warmly and extending his hand. "Medicine Rock..." Gently shaking the other's broad hand, Xiao Yan said softly.