With the full-speed flight of a Dou Zong, it didn't take long for Xiao Lin to reach the entrance of the Black-Corner Region after crossing the borders of the Jia Ma Empire.
Looking at the seemingly prosperous landscape ahead—which was, in reality, a giant beast waiting to devour the unwary—Xiao Lin's heart was not as calm as his expression. Until reaching the Dou Zong realm, his cultivation had been a step-by-step process within a safe environment. Now, this was his first real step into the wild. It was his first true stride toward becoming a supreme powerhouse.
"The Black-Corner Region... the land of chaos and disorder. I hope you don't disappoint me," Xiao Lin murmured before resolutely stepping into the territory.
The Black-Corner Region did not make him wait. The moment his foot crossed the threshold, two Dou Ling practitioners blocked his path. Sensing movement behind him, he realized two more Dou Ling were closing in from the rear.
Four Dou Ling experts as a welcoming committee! Even in the Jia Ma Empire, a Dou Ling was considered a high-level expert, yet here, Xiao Lin had encountered four just by stepping through the door. It was a testament to the region's exaggerated reputation.
"So this is the Black-Corner Region? You truly haven't disappointed me!" Instead of being annoyed, a surge of delight rose from the depths of Xiao Lin's heart. Only a place this chaotic could be called a true training ground. If it had been peaceful, he would have been let down.
Seeing Xiao Lin surrounded but smiling instead of showing fear, the two Dou Ling in front felt their hearts sink. Those who survived in the Black-Corner Region were all "human spirits"—shrewd and instinctual. They loved to intercept lone travelers, but they weren't stupid enough to kick a steel plate.
In their eyes, a man who smiles while surrounded by four experts is either a lunatic or someone with absolute confidence in his overwhelming power.
"Boss, something's wrong," one of the front Dou Ling whispered to the other. "This guy looks too calm. Could he be a 'crossing dragon' from another region?"
"I know, stay steady!" the leader hissed back. "We haven't attacked yet. Even if he's far stronger than us, there's still room to talk. I just hope he's a 'green' newcomer who doesn't understand how cold hearts are here."
He was already regretting acting so quickly. Plenty of others were hiding in the shadows waiting to pounce, but his group had jumped the gun to claim the first prize. Now, he wasn't thinking about loot; he was thinking about survival.
However, while the front two sensed the danger, the two behind were not so perceptive.
"Kid, you can't enter the Black-Corner Region without paying a protection fee," one of the rear Dou Ling sneered. "Otherwise, it's very easy to... die inside."
"Exactly. Leave your storage ring, and we'll guarantee your safety!" the other added, his voice brimming with unearned arrogance.
As they spoke, the two leaders in front saw Xiao Lin's smile turn into something terrifyingly eerie.
"Not good!" "Idiots!"
The two leaders didn't hesitate. Without a word to their teammates, they turned tail and bolted toward the depths of the region. In their minds, if they could reach a crowded area, this "freak" might lose them. As for their two partners? Every man for himself. In the Black-Corner Region, there were no "friends," only temporary alliances.
But the two in the back were still wondering why their leaders were running. Didn't we agree to split the resources?
BOOM! BOOM!
Before they could process the thought, they watched as their two fleeing leaders—hundreds of meters away—suddenly exploded into clouds of blood without warning.
The two remaining Dou Ling felt the hair on their necks stand up. If they didn't realize they had kicked a steel plate by now, they would have died years ago. To kill two Dou Ling so effortlessly and invisibly... this was at least a Dou Huang. A Dou Wang didn't have such methods.
"B-Big brother... it's a m-misunderstanding..." "Y-yes, a mistake!"
BOOM! BOOM!
As Xiao Lin slowly turned around, the last two bodies erupted into mist. Xiao Lin hadn't used a single shred of Dou Qi; he had simply used his Soul Power to crush them. Compared to physical combat, he found the sensation of detonating an enemy with a mere spiritual thought far more satisfying.
"Not bad. A big surprise the moment I arrive," Xiao Lin whispered, his true nature finally unrestrained. He swept his gaze across the surrounding shadows.
Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh!
Dozens of figures hiding in the brush fled instantly, terrified by that single glance. Since they hadn't attacked, Xiao Lin didn't bother chasing them. That was the law here: the strong are respected, and the weak flee.
Without a second glance at the four piles of gore, Xiao Lin walked calmly into the heart of the Black-Corner Region.
Simultaneously, a piece of news began to ripple through the border: A powerhouse of at least the Dou Huang level has entered the Black-Corner Region!
After entering the Black-Corner Region, Xiao Lin began to wander aimlessly.
As a newcomer, he needed to familiarize himself with this cutthroat environment. His explosive entry—killing four Dou Ling practitioners with a thought—had earned him a significant amount of "attention." Even as he moved deeper into the region, he could feel numerous eyes tracking his movements.
To the local factions, Xiao Lin was a "Crossing Dragon"—a powerhouse of at least the Dou Huang level. Such strength was enough to carve out a territory of his own. Consequently, various leaders were already calculating how to react if he tried to establish his own sect. Most were far from welcoming; the Black-Corner Region was only so large, and a new Dou Huang meant a smaller slice of the pie for everyone else.
Strong dragons rarely suppress local snakes, as the saying went. If Xiao Lin showed ambition, the local powers would likely unite to squeeze him out.
Fortunately for them, Xiao Lin had no interest in building a power base. Given the treacherous nature of the people here, he wouldn't dare recruit anyone. He'd likely be sold out by his own subordinates by the next morning. Being a "Lone Ranger" was far more suited to his style; if he offended some old monster, he could just slip away without baggage.
As he wandered, Xiao Lin discovered many rare treasures that would never appear in the Jia Ma Empire. In one apothecary, he even spotted several Tier 7 medicinal herbs—the core ingredients for Tier 7 pills.
The shopkeeper hadn't listed a price in gold; like most high-level transactions involving pills, scrolls, or monster cores, it was strictly barter only. Xiao Lin noted that the shopkeeper himself was a Dou Huang. It made sense—anyone selling Tier 7 ingredients without the strength to protect them would be robbed blind before their second day of business.
As he explored roughly one-fifth of the region, Xiao Lin's mental map of the local power level began to take shape:
Dou Huangs: At least 5 detected, including two at the 9-Star Peak.
Dou Wangs: Over 20.
Dou Lings: Well into the triple digits.
"Tsk, truly the Black-Corner Region," Xiao Lin marveled. If one could somehow unite all these fractured resources and experts, they could theoretically produce a low-star Dou Sheng.
Xiao Lin was standing near the entrance of the high-end apothecary when a group of five exited, causing him to pause.
The leader was a middle-aged man in his thirties or forties with the cultivation of a Dou Wang. Behind him were four youths—three males and one female—barely sixteen or seventeen years old, all at the Dou Shi level.
Normally, such a group wouldn't warrant a second look. But these youths wore matching uniforms: white fabric with blue patterns, featuring a sleek, disciplined design. Their identity was unmistakable.
"Students of Jia Nan Academy, and a leading Elder?" Xiao Lin mused silently.
Meeting them here was a surprise, but a logical one. Jia Nan Academy didn't raise its students in a greenhouse; the "Inner Academy" students frequently undertook missions in the Black-Corner Region for tempering. With a Dou Wang Elder as a bodyguard, they were usually safe—most local factions feared the Academy's wrath. If a student was killed by a peer, the Academy stayed silent; that was part of the "tempering." But if an older expert suppressed them? The offending faction would usually be erased from the map by the next dawn.
However, Xiao Lin noticed that a "Madman" had appeared.
As the Elder led his students away from the apothecary toward the outskirts, a Dou Huang was stealthily tailing them. This shadow was clearly gambling on a silent kill—wiping out the group and vanishing before the Academy could trace the culprit.
Xiao Lin's lips curled into a faint smile. "Interesting. I was wondering how to establish a connection with Jia Nan Academy, and here is a perfect opportunity delivered to my doorstep."
Adjusting his traveler's cloak, Xiao Lin moved silently, following the hunter who was following the prey.