This is an exceptionally dense forest. Though occasional patches of light filter through the leaf gaps, they are still unable to dispel the forest's inherent gloom. Walking through such terrain, one might find the oppressive atmosphere quite unbearable. Suddenly, in the otherwise quiet forest, a hurried footfall echoes—then, a group of indistinct, shadowy figures emerges from one end. These figures move with quiet grace and clearly possess considerable experience, their eyes constantly scanning the dark corners of the forest. In this realm, no matter one's status, vigilance is paramount—missteps in the quietest of moments happen almost daily. To survive longer, one must remain ever cautious. "Crack!" A figure steps on a dry branch, causing it to snap with a crisp sound that resonates sharply against the forest's stillness, especially jarring. The flowing crowd suddenly halted, as if struck by the sound. The leading figure in black robes cast a sharp, stern glance at his companion who had stepped on and broken the branches, then raised his hand, ready to direct the group forward. Yet at that very moment, a subtle rustling of leaves reached his ears. His expression tightened instantly, and he barked, "Be careful!" At once, the leading black-robed commander felt his heart sink upon seeing the shadow units that advanced without a single sound, their bodies thick with dense bloodstains. Such a well-trained formation clearly consisted of seasoned warriors who had frequently fought at the front lines—men accustomed to the sharp edge of battle. Observing their swift movements, he realized their combat prowess was notably strong. Who, then, could these formidable forces belong to? The shadows moved with exceptional speed, slicing through the ranks of the black-robed troops with the precision of a blade. Each time their blades cut through flesh, the deep, resonant thuds reverberated, deepening the commander’s sense of unease. Drawn his weapon from his waist, he repelled the several shadowy figures that surged silently and unannounced, at the cost of cracking his palms and bleeding profusely. As he retreated, he swiftly surveyed his troops—now nearly wiped out within a minute—and his eyes widened in shock. With a commanding voice laced with urgency, he barked, "You dare move even the members of the Black Alliance? Are you all going to die?" To his sharp outburst, the reply came in the form of several steel blades streaked with blood. Rolling across the ground in a disheveled state, the leader in black robes planted his feet firmly into the earth and launched himself toward the forest's edge with remarkable speed—so swift that even the trailing shadows failed to keep pace. Just as the black-robed figure was about to clear the forest, a sudden gust of bloodied air rushed past his ears, and then a heavy, forceful impact pressed against his back, hurling him violently back to the ground. "Plunged!" "Struck by this blow, the cloaked figure couldn't help but spew out a stream of blood, turning his head with difficulty and seeing a silhouette completely enveloped in a broad black robe. 'The Black Alliance will not rest until they have you!' the cloaked figure said, his voice dark and solemn, thick with blood. 'I have already put three figures of the Black Alliance to death at my hands.' A rich, blood-scented voice slowly emanated from within the robe. Then, with a gentle tap of his foot, a surge of power surged forth and struck the cloaked figure directly in the back, felling him instantly. With a single kick, the figure sent the lifeless cloaked man flying. A shadow swiftly leapt onto the scene, quickly probing the body with both hands. After a moment, he withdrew a letter from the man's chest and respectfully presented it to the mysterious figure, now radiating a strong scent of blood. Tearing the letter open casually, the cloaked mystic slowly flipped through it, then spoke with a cold, low voice after a moment: "I never expected even the 'Furious Lion Clan' to join the 'Black Alliance'—now their influence has spread this way?" "Over the past two years, the strong members of Cana College have been continuously seeking out those who participated in the initial assault on the college. To resist Cana College, Han Feng established the 'Black Alliance.' Today, the Alliance has grown so strong that even Cana College can no longer contain it. From Han Feng's recent actions, it seems he intends to expand the Alliance across the entire Black Corner Region. Indeed, we've been constantly creating obstacles for them. They'll eventually notice. We should probably relocate once again." A figure in shadow swiftly stepped forward, his voice slightly hoarse. "Hm." The cloaked man, exuding a strong scent of blood, merely nodded once, then raised his hand and turned, walking steadily toward the forest's edge. In the darkness, figures darted and glided past, seemingly numbering at least a hundred. These figures moved silently, close behind the cloaked man, their footsteps merging into a single, unified rhythm. Emerging from the forest's shadow, soft sunlight filtered down. The cloaked man slowly lifted his head, revealing a young, resolute face—familiar and fierce. Indeed, he was none other than Xiao Li, Xiao Yan's second brother! At this moment, Xiao Li was filled with an intense aroma of blood, his face expressionless, his eyes devoid of emotion. Most importantly, the aura radiating from within him was comparable to that of a Grand Battle King—remarkable, considering he had risen from a mere Grand Battle Master to Grand Battle King level in just two years. Yet upon closer inspection, one could notice a subtle aura of stillness lingering in his brow, an unusual sight on such a young face. This might be related to the rapid growth of his power. "You all go first," Xiao Li said calmly. The over a hundred black-clad figures trailing behind immediately bowed respectfully, then slowly stepped back into the darkness, vanishing completely into silence. Only after everyone had vanished did the faint composure on Xiao Li's face gradually ease. He slightly tilted his head, his gaze fixed on the distant north—where the inner courtyard of Gan Nan Academy lay—and there, Xiao Yan had turned to ash. Thinking of his brother's radiant smile, a subtle ache stirred in Xiao Li's chest. When his elder brother Xiao Ding had come to Black Angular Domain, he had said: "I can die, but Xiao Yan cannot. Only he can save the Xiao family." Yet now... … The world of molten rock remained a deep crimson, its intense heat making it a complete death zone! "Boom!" Suddenly, the stillness of the molten world shattered as the magma burst forth, rising in a billowing mist. Two figures surged out from beneath. One behind the other, it seemed as though the latter was pursuing a powerful foe. With every step, the trailing figure unleashed fierce streaks of vibrant seven-colored energy, each one cutting with deadly intent. The figure in front, however, clearly feared these attacks, though appearing disheveled, managed to narrowly evade them. The missed streaks of energy plunged directly into the molten world, instantly triggering colossal explosions and sending waves of magma soaring into the air. "Are you done yet? I’ll admit, I’ve been patient—perhaps because you’re a woman. But if you keep dragging me along, I’ll have no choice but to turn on you!" "Once again, narrowly evading a sharp assault, the young man in black robes roared in fury. Facing his outburst, the alluring beauty standing behind remained utterly unmoved, her refined features etched with frost, her eyes blazing with murderous intent—her demeanor suggesting an unyielding, mortal enmity toward the one before her. "I have already declared that as soon as I regain my strength, the very first person I will dispatch will be you, shattered into a thousand pieces!" she coldly stated, her teeth clenched. "Sister, I too am a victim. In that state, I had no sense of reason at all. Please forgive me—let us simply pretend nothing ever happened. I promise I won't speak of it to anyone." Xiao Yan, his face etched with deep sorrow, bowed respectfully to the Queen of Medusa. "Dreaming!" The Queen of Medusa instantly erupted in fury, her palm flashing, and a surge of vibrant, seven-colored energy erupted forth. "Medusa, don't go overboard! If you insist on continuing, then I shall no longer hesitate to show you no mercy!" Xiao Yan's eyes narrowed in fury, and with a flick of his hand, a jade-green flame emerged in his palm, glowing like an ethereal ghostly fire. As the flame appeared, the molten world erupted into turmoil—waves of lava surged and rolled, finally halting in a rhythmic surge beneath Xiao Yan's feet, creating the illusion that he was walking upon a sea of molten fire. Observing the violent agitation of the lava ocean, even the Queen of Medusa, despite her formidable strength, could not help but pale. She knew well that the man before her had mastered the Fallen Heart Flame. In this environment, facing him now, even if she had regained her peak strength, she would likely find herself at a disadvantage. Moreover, she found it increasingly difficult to strike him down—she recognized this as a consequence of the integration of the soul of the Sky-Eating Python. Otherwise, given her usual temperament, she would have crushed him to dust, regardless of the cost, simply for such profound disrespect. The Queen of Medusa finally seemed to settle down, and only then did Xiao Yan exhale, wiping the sweat from his forehead. Yet in his heart, he could hardly help but chuckle bitterly—what on earth had happened? He’d ended up completely unprepared, dragging this beautiful serpent along like this.