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"Blood Sect, Dark Sky Sect, Wild Lion Gang, Luo Sha Gate, Ground Fire Sect, Eight Gates, Ghost Emperor Hall, Black Prison Alliance, Underworld Mansion, Black Emperor Sect, Demon Flame Valley…"
"Tsk tsk, there really are quite a few factions in the Black-Corner Region that possess powerhouses above the Dou Huang level!"
"Just looking at this rough overview, there are already no fewer than dozens of them. If these forces were ever unified, even Jia Nan Academy would have a headache! No wonder students who go out for tempering often run into all sorts of danger."
Xiao Lin, who had already entered the Black-Corner Region, marveled as he flipped through the various intelligence files Grand Elder Su Qian had prepared for him before he left the Academy.
It was no exaggeration to say that if the various factions of the Black-Corner Region joined forces, they would seriously threaten the safety of Jia Nan Academy. This explained why Grand Elder had agreed to Xiao Lin's plan to weaken them this time.
Currently, it was fine because the factions weren't united; they each ruled their own turf, failing to form an effective threat against the Academy.
However, if one day a person with sufficient strength and means appeared to bind these factions into a single rope, the teachers, students, and even the Elders of Jia Nan Academy probably wouldn't be able to step a single foot out of the Peace Town!
This was something Su Qian absolutely could not accept!
Therefore, thinning out the strength of these factions was an imperative move for Jia Nan Academy. Otherwise, the Black-Corner Region would eventually become a "tail too big to wag"—a burden too heavy to manage.
"Old Man Lin, have you picked one yet? Where exactly are we going to start?"
While Xiao Lin was focused on the documents, he suddenly heard Zi Yan's grumbling from beside him. Naturally, the specific details of the plan between Xiao Lin and Su Qian hadn't been shared with Zi Yan.
This sort of thing wasn't something a child should worry about.
To Zi Yan, this trip was simply a part of her tempering. Her goal was straightforward: the high-level medicinal herbs and pills held by the various factions! She didn't need to stress over anything else.
Consequently, she was quite dissatisfied with the fact that after entering the Black-Corner Region, Xiao Lin hadn't immediately led her into action but was instead staring intently at a stack of papers.
Where were the promised high-tier herbs and pills?
There were only documents! Her stomach was already growling with anticipation!
"Alright, alright, I'm done reading. Since you're in such a hurry, why don't you pick one of the factions from these files?"
Seeing Zi Yan's impatient look, Xiao Lin shook his head and laughed helplessly.
But it made sense.
Zi Yan had the temperament of a child, after all. Having arrived in the Black-Corner Region and doing nothing, how could she restrain her restless heart?
As for which faction to strike first, Xiao Lin didn't really care. He intended to take Zi Yan on a tour of all these factions with powerhouses above Dou Huang anyway. The order of arrival didn't matter much.
However, in the data Su Qian gave him, one faction was specifically highlighted.
This was because this faction possessed a Dou Zong powerhouse!
Simultaneously, according to the Academy's investigations, among all the factions in the Black-Corner Region, this one was the most restless!
In fact, the investigation suggested that this faction secretly harbored the ambition to lead the entire Black-Corner Region!
The only reason they hadn't succeeded was because the pressure brought by this Dou Zong-level force was too great. Additionally, the other denizens of the Black-Corner Region weren't exactly good people and wouldn't easily submit to others.
This had led the other Dou Huang-level forces to huddle together for warmth. Since Jia Nan Academy existed as an aloof power in the region, this faction eventually had to temporarily suppress its thoughts of unification.
Yes, in the Academy's view, they had only "temporarily" suppressed those thoughts. Secretly, they weren't as well-behaved as they appeared on the surface.
They were quietly developing themselves while trying every possible way—through threats and bribes—to disintegrate and divide the alliance of Dou Huang forces that refused to follow them.
If this continued long-term, there really was a possibility that one day, the Black-Corner Region would be completely dominated by them!
There was another crucial reason why Su Qian didn't want to see this happen.
It was suspected that this faction had already secretly acted against many Jia Nan Academy students out for tempering. However, because there was no direct evidence, the Academy could only "swallow its broken teeth."
After all, if the Academy acted against a Dou Zong-level force without proof, it might trigger a backlash from the other factions, making it even easier for the enemy to seize control.
Thus, without evidence, the Academy couldn't move against them. Otherwise, wouldn't they be playing right into the enemy's hands? Or perhaps, the enemy was waiting for the Academy to do exactly that!
So, knowing this faction harbored ill intentions toward the Academy, how could Su Qian be willing to see them unify the region? This was why he hadn't hesitated to agree when Xiao Lin proposed the plan.
If they didn't do something now, the Black-Corner Region would truly become uncontrollable. This faction with a Dou Zong powerhouse was none other than the Black Prison Alliance!
The name "Black Prison" (Heiyu) was taken from the homophones of the first and last characters of the "Black-Corner Region". Using "Alliance" as their title made the Dou Zong's ambitions crystal clear.
He simply wanted to rule the region.
The enemy was clearly already in motion. Therefore, in the pile of data Su Qian gave Xiao Lin, the Black Prison Alliance was the primary target!
Rather than saying Xiao Lin was out to weaken the entire region's strength.
It was more accurate to say he was looking for a chance to suppress the Black Prison Alliance and prevent their conspiracy from succeeding. One could say the Black Prison Alliance was the only real variable in the region right now!
"As long as the Black Prison Alliance is dealt with, Jia Nan Academy won't have to worry about the Black-Corner Region for quite a while. Though, I didn't expect that Han Feng hasn't fled to the Black-Corner Region yet at this point in time?"
Thinking of a key character from the original story, Xiao Lin couldn't help but show a complex expression.
He had originally wondered if Han Feng was already here, and if he should take the chance to just kill him. Now it seemed there was no opportunity. The guy wasn't even here yet; how could he kill him?
Setting aside thoughts of Han Feng, Xiao Lin decided to save the Black Prison Alliance—the force with a Dou Zong powerhouse—for last!
At the same time, he had already thought of a "big surprise" to deliver to them. Although, for the Black Prison Alliance, it would likely be all "shock" and no "surprise."
"Ugh, there are too many, I can't even look at them all. I'll just pick one at random. Old Man Lin, let's choose this one!"
Looking at the thick stack of files Xiao Lin handed over, Zi Yan felt like a failing student facing an exam paper; her eyes were practically spinning in circles.
So, after just one glance, she pulled out a single sheet of data.
Well, she had randomly selected a lucky winner—the Black Prison Alliance!
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