Amid the lush, verdant forests, occasional thunderous roars of wild beasts echo, startling countless birds that have taken shelter among the trees. The rustling of their wings sends a tense vibration through the air. Hidden deep within the dense foliage lies a steeply rising mountain range, its base split open by a vast fissure, resembling a valley from a distance. On either side of the valley, sheer, smooth stone cliffs rise, difficult to climb. The only passage is a narrow opening barely two zhang wide. At present, a large group of people stand gathered in the valley, though their faces are mostly pale, their expressions of alarm only mildly evident. They grasp their weapons tightly, their eyes sharp and intense, scanning the mountain peak at the valley's entrance. This group consists of younger individuals, all around seventeen to nineteen years old—exactly at the peak of their energy and vigor. They are equally balanced between male and female, with strikingly beautiful young women, especially radiating that unique youthful vitality that is most captivating. Yet, at present, these graceful young women all appear pale, and precisely this delicate fragility only enhances their endearing charm. At the forefront of the group, several men and women stand with serious expressions, their eyes fixed intently on the distant valley entrance, where faint figures and glimmers of cold light are beginning to emerge. "Master Wu, what should we do now? The magi from Magi Valley have completely sealed off the entrance, and the surrounding mountain walls are unusually slippery. Unless one is a Duke-level warrior or stronger, no one can escape." A middle-aged man, around thirty, gazing at this dire situation, sighed softly and offered a wry smile to the man standing before him, who carried a heavy crimson sword on his back. Hearing this, the man bearing the crimson, heavy sword slowly turned, revealing a face marked with cold resolve. The face was somewhat familiar—indeed, he was one of the co-founders of Panmen, and a close friend of Xiao Yan's, Wu Hao! Compared to two years ago, Wu Hao now appeared significantly more mature, and the chilling aura of bloodiness had notably softened—though not diminished. Rather, he had gradually absorbed and contained that bloodstained essence within himself. Previously, he had been a sharp, bloodied sword, its edge blazing with intensity; now, he was a dull, unassuming blade, its sharpness concealed beneath the sheath. Yet should that sheath be torn asunder, the latent, potent vitality would erupt fully and powerfully. "Just wait. I hope Madi and the others can escape unscathed. As long as they manage to spread the word, and if any strong members from nearby academies happen to be present, they should come to assist." His gaze slowly swept over the faces of the people in the valley. Wu Hao sighed and said, "What a damn Magi-Inn Valley! If we make it out this time, I'll definitely have Xiao Li, my elder brother, settle accounts with them!" At the same time, a tall, beautiful woman in a mentor's robe suddenly spoke coldly. Wearing a deep red mentor's robe that added a touch of maturity and grace, the woman's skirt had a slight opening extending halfway down the hem. As the skirt swayed, the long, smooth, and sensuous legs revealed were no less captivating even in such dire circumstances, drawing several lingering glances from the male students behind. One of them silently admired, thinking, "Xiao Yu, the mentor, is truly becoming more and more womanly..." Xiao Yu—the woman dressed in the red mentor's robe—was actually Xiao Yan's cousin, the one who had remained at the Gan Nan Academy all along! Hearing Xiao Yu's words, Wu Hao also nodded slightly, then sighed with a touch of resignation, "I suspect these people won't give us the chance..." As he finished speaking, his expression suddenly tightened, and his gaze sharply shifted toward the valley entrance, his voice firming as he said, "Be careful, protect the students—there seems to be some movement among the Magi Flame Valley people." Wu Hao stared coldly at the gray-robed figure, chuckling. "Hah! The Blood Sword Elder's name is well-known throughout the Black Angle Region—indeed, the 'Three-Brave Fighter's' combat style is equally legendary!" Another booming laugh echoed, followed by the appearance of a new figure. Observing the aura of dual qi wings flapping behind him, it was clear that this was another Top-tier Battle King. Wu Hao's gaze grew heavier as he watched the two Battle Kings atop the valley. Though his own strength was only a four-star Battle King, the presence of these two rivals was clearly on par with him. In a one-on-one duel, he was confident he could defeat either of them and even hold his own against both. Yet, facing them as a combined force, he would inevitably be at a disadvantage. But should the battle reach its final, desperate stage—no matter how he ultimately fell, he would surely inflict heavy losses on both of them. Yet the reason these individuals have surrounded themselves yet still haven't chosen to strike clearly stems from their apprehension of Wu Hao's famed tenacious fighting style—true bravery isn't merely a spark of courage; it demands a wholehearted willingness to lay down one's life. These two King-Class warriors undoubtedly hold high standing within the Magi Fire Valley, and they certainly wouldn't risk their positions to fight a relentless fighter like Wu Hao. "Wu Hao Elder, if you choose to surrender today, I can guarantee that not a single student from the Gan-Can Academy will be harmed," the gray-robed man smiled. "Do you really think I'm still a child of three? If I fall into your hands, my fate will likely be far worse than death!" Wu Hao coldly replied. "Two timid fellows, hiding behind their posts, unwilling to engage me in direct combat—this is truly a disgrace to the Magi Fire Valley!" "Hehe, Wu Haolong, you don't need to pressure us. I know you're counting on that fleeing one to carry the hopes—though perhaps your plan isn't as solid as you think. Can one wounded Grand Master, dragging a slow-witted apprentice, really escape my elite mag-heat valley hunters' pursuit?" The other Grand Master spoke with a cold, sharp tone. Wu Haolong's face slightly tightened, and his fists gradually clenched. "And really, do you think you can protect them by yourself? Hehe. Once my fourth elder from the Mag-Heat Valley arrives, I'll see how bold you remain. Hah! The young ladies from Ganav College are quite attractive, each with a strong sense of pride. I'll take them back and train them well—perhaps even sell them off for a good profit." Hearing that lewd laughter, a surge of bloody combat energy erupted suddenly from Wu Hao's body. With a fierce gaze fixed upon the斗王 strongman who had spoken, his voice dark and menacing, he declared, "You scum of Magi Flame Valley—eventually, I will make you all fall beneath my sword!" "Hah... youngster, you'd better survive and make it out first," Wu Hao's stern tone, however, provoked two other Đạo Vương-level warriors to burst into thunderous laughter. Their wild, unrestrained laughter echoed throughout the valley, causing many young women to pale—though most of them came from respectable backgrounds, such prestige held little weight in this turbulent region of Black Angle Domain. "We'll have to charge now or risk being completely overwhelmed when the fourth elder of Magi Flame Valley arrives. The four mentors, follow me and hold firm. Xiao Yu, when the time comes, simply lead your forces straight ahead—don't look back!" Wu Hao took a deep breath and turned, speaking with determined resolve. "Understood!" Xiao Yu bit her red lips tightly, her slender hands clenched. She was very clear that Wu Hao and the others' resistance must be at the cost of their lives—otherwise, they simply couldn't hold off the two Dou Wang-level强者. Gradually, she grasped the blood-red heavy sword at her back. A surge of vibrant blood energy erupted violently from Wu Hao's body, and then he roared, his figure transforming into a streak of blood, charging straight toward the valley entrance. Behind him, a large number of students quickly followed, their powerful Dou Qi radiating out in waves. Though individually they seemed somewhat weak, when combined, they formed a powerful and resounding momentum. "Heh, finally, they're going all out... Hold them!" The two Dou Wang-level warriors immediately chuckled, then issued a firm command. As the command rang out, numerous black-robed figures suddenly emerged from the otherwise empty valley, swiftly descending, gripping their sharp weapons, and launching attacks against Wu Hao and his advancing troops. "Kill!" Staring at the tide of black-robed figures with blazing eyes, Wu Hao roared and drove his heavy sword down with a powerful slash, sending a broad streak of crimson light several zhang wide rocketing forth—directly cleaving through several frontline black-robed figures, tearing them in two. Despite the splashing of blood, the black-robed attackers' assault did not waver. One after another, figures darted forward, swiftly encircling Wu Hao and his companions. Then, the sword attacks surged in unison! "Clang! Clang!" The students from Ganan Academy clashed fiercely with the black-robed forces, their sharp qi surging forth in waves. Both sides fought with fierce intensity, their eyes blazing red. Though the academy students lacked the refined combat experience of the black-robed opponents, their solid foundation proved decisive, and together they managed to successfully repel the enemy's advance. This group, led by Wu Hao, advanced straight toward the valley entrance. As they neared the entrance, two powerful streams of qi suddenly burst forth from the sky. Wu Hao flicked his blood-scarred sword, sending a surge of crimson light upward, which then joined and resisted the two streams of qi. Qi surged forth in powerful bursts, and the two figures darted downward, immediately joining forces to launch an attack upon Wu Hao. The latter swiftly responded with full force, and for a moment, a surge of robust Qi erupted, sharp swordlight lifting entire layers of soil from the ground. Gazing at Wu Hao's formidable presence, both the Dou Wang强者s' faces subtly tightened—this one truly proved difficult to handle. Just as Wu Hao was about to give it his all, a faint, elderly laughter suddenly resonated across the sky, eventually echoing grandly throughout the valley. "Hehe, truly, no surprise at all—indeed, the famed Blood Sword reputation lives up to its name. Such vivid, blood-soaked ki... aside from the old Blood Sect members back in the day, I've never seen anything as intensely bloody as this."